{"id":202186,"date":"2018-02-26T16:23:22","date_gmt":"2018-02-26T06:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=202186"},"modified":"2020-08-06T15:43:42","modified_gmt":"2020-08-06T05:43:42","slug":"nats-elect-new-federal-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/02\/26\/nats-elect-new-federal-leader\/","title":{"rendered":"Nats Elect New Federal Leader"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien with new National Party leader Michael McCormack in Murgon late last year<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 26, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

NSW MP Michael McCormack was elected leader of the federal Nationals at a short party room meeting held in Canberra on Monday morning.<\/p>\n

The Member for Riverina – and former journalist – has twice before nominated for Nationals leadership, and each time missed out.<\/p>\n

Names that had been suggested before the poll included Member for Maranoa David Littleproud, Victorian MP Darren Chester, and NSW MP David Gillespie.<\/p>\n

Mr Chester ruled himself out on Friday and Mr Littleproud on Sunday, saying\u00a0 in a statement: “”Now is not the time for internal contests. Now is the time for all individuals to be team players. Now is the time to think about stability for the good of the party.”<\/p>\n

Mr Gillespie also admitted to the media that he did not have the numbers and withdrew from the ballot.<\/p>\n

A late\u00a0 challenge to Mr McCormack’s bid was made by North Queensland MP George Christensen, who had earlier called for the Federal Coalition with the Liberal Party to be scrapped.<\/p>\n

Details of the vote were not released by Nationals Whip Michelle Landry.<\/p>\n

Mr McCormack entered Federal Parliament in 2010.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He served as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister in 2015, and in 2016 became Assistant Minister for Defence in the re-shuffle that followed the retirement of then-leader Warren Truss.<\/p>\n

After the 2016 election, Mr McCormack was appointed Small Business Minister.<\/p>\n

On Monday, he was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Mr McCormack at the Royal Hotel in Murgon in November last year … Seated, from left, Gary Long (Murgon Real Estate), Mr McCormack, South Burnett Senior Economic Development Officer Craig Tunley, and KCCI president Rob Fitz-Herbert (TAFE Qld); at back, Neville Holden (BGA AgriServices, Goomeri), BIEDO CEO Kristy Frahm, Lance Rea (Murgon Tyre & Auto), Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien, Mark Smith (Mark Smith’s Menswear) and Cherbourg Economic Development Officer Sean Nicholson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Queensland LNP Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington welcomed Mr McCormack’s appointment.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAs Leader of the Liberal National Party in Queensland I have invited him to our State to discuss the issues that are relevant to us, particularly roads, dams and other vital infrastructure,” she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know the Deputy Prime Minister is a relentless advocate for regional Australia and I look forward to continuing to work with the Federal Government.\u201d<\/p>\n

* * *<\/h2>\n

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O\u2019Brien said Mr MrCormack understood the needs of regional Australia.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI have a very good relationship with Mr McCormack, he is a good friend and colleague, and I know that his focus is very much on delivering the services and infrastructure that people who live in communities like ours need,” Mr O’Brien said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr McCormack has visited Wide Bay many times.<\/p>\n

“He\u2019s hosted a forum for small business in Gympie, walked along Mary Street speaking to local traders, he\u2019s been through the South Burnett to Murgon to meet with local business people, and was the keynote speaker at a Wide Bay Burnett regional economic development forum at the Brolga Theatre in Maryborough.<\/p>\n

“These visits to our electorate give Mr McCormack a deep appreciation of the issues we face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI particularly welcome his appointment as Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.\u00a0 The most important new project on the Bruce Highway has been identified as Cooroy to Curra Section D and I look forward to working with Mr McCormack to secure funding for this vital piece of infrastructure that will make the highway safer and build new economic opportunities for the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am committed to working with Mr McCormack to deliver for Wide Bay. Lowering unemployment, building safer roads, and improving aged care are some of my priorities and I look forward to continuing my work with Mr McCormack in pursuit of these and many other goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Federal Member for Flynn Ken O\u2019Dowd also welcomed the vote.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMichael McCormack will be an excellent leader for our Nationals team in Canberra and across the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBarnaby has been an exceptionally strong leader for our party and I thank him for what he has delivered for regional and rural Australia.<\/p>\n

“Barnaby\u2019s tireless advocacy for the people of the bush will deliver benefits to regional Australia for generations to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe came together as one, the ballot was held and now we get on with the job of representing regional and rural Australia.<\/p>\n

\u201cMichael has been an extremely effective Minister serving as Minister for Small Business and then Minister for Veteran Affairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cMichael joined the Parliament in the same year as myself as the Member for Riverina and knows the importance of dams, water and agriculture better than most.<\/p>\n

\u201cMichael\u2019s responsibilities has brought him to Flynn on a number of occasions where he has met with small business owners and constituents on the ground and knows the challenges facing our region\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur party leader and now Deputy Prime Minister is very aware of the key priorities for Flynn, namely roads, rail, affordable energy supply and water infrastructure to secure long term prosperity for all of Central Queensland\u201d<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Agriculture Minister and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud … chose not to run for the leadership<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said the Nationals had entered a new era.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe people of Maranoa can rest assured we\u2019ll continue to deliver for them together,\u201d Mr Littleproud said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was humbling to receive significant support from colleagues and others, urging me to run for the leadership of the National Party however, I have chosen to continue focussing on Maranoa and the Agriculture and Water Resources portfolio.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow is the time for all individuals to be team players. Now is the time to think about stability and the good of the party.<\/p>\n

\u201cI look forward to continuing to serve the people of Maranoa and we look forward to delivering great things under Michael McCormack\u2019s leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Queensland Farmers\u2019 Federation (QFF) also welcomed the election and thanked outgoing Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.<\/strong><\/p>\n

QFF President Stuart Armitage congratulated Mr McCormack on his appointment.<\/p>\n

\u201cQFF and industry members look forward to the constructive relationship we experienced with the former Deputy Prime Minister and his office continuing with Mr. McCormack at the helm of the National Party,” Mr Armitage said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe National Party has a long history of working closely with and representing Australia\u2019s agriculture regions and industries. QFF look forward to this tradition continuing in Queensland.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn behalf of Queensland\u2019s intensive agricultural industries, QFF acknowledges and thanks Barnaby Joyce for his passion, commitment and achievements as Deputy Prime Minister, leader of the National Party, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, and more recently Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBarnaby Joyce has been a fierce and unapologetic advocate for rural and regional Queensland and its mainstay industries including agriculture.\u201d<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

ACTU secretary Sally McManus urged Mr McCormack to put working people in the regions first.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cYoung people in regional areas can\u2019t get a start, while one in 10 people in our workforce are on temporary visas. TAFE has been gutted and real jobs have been replaced by $4 per hour internships,” she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople who want to work are forced into unfair work-for-welfare arrangements because the Turnbull\/Joyce government killed real work opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cRather than being content to sign off on policies that shift money out of regional communities and into big business bank accounts, Mr McCormack has a chance to stand up for working people in regional Australia.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe must take that chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

FOOTNOTE:\u00a0 Many news reports of Mr McCormack’s success have been accompanied by a clipping from his time as editor of the Wagga Wagga newspaper, the Daily Advertiser.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1993, Mr McCormack wrote an editorial that attracted widespread criticism:<\/p>\n

“Dear Readers,” it began. “A week never goes by anymore when homosexuals and their sordid behaviour don’t become further entrenched in society. Unfortunately, gays are here and, if the disease their unnatural acts helped spread doesn’t wipe out humanity, they’re here to stay.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Mr McCormack has apologised many times since 1993 for the editorial, and has said his views have since changed.<\/p>\n

He voted “yes” in the same-sex marriage debate last year.<\/p>\n

What commentators failed to mention is further in the same editorial, Mr McCormack takes a swipe at the Nationals and then NSW Chairman of the Nationals, Duncan Gay:<\/p>\n

“Oh dear, the Nationals are at it again …”<\/em><\/p>\n