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"The National Party today starts its journey towards 2025, with a vibrant team, ready to articulate the policies that are important to regional and rural Australia"
- David Littleproud
David Littleproud has been elected leader of the National Party of Australia. Littleproud defeated former leader Barnaby Joyce and challenger Darren Chester.
Here's what you need to know about Littleproud:
- 45 year old Littleproud represents the south Queensland seat of Maranoa (it encompasses almost half of geographical Queensland). He holds the seat by a margin of 23%.
- Littleproud was formerly deputy leader of the National Party.
- He served as Minister for Agriculture from 2017 - 2022, Minister for Northern Australia from 2021 - 2022, and Minister for Water Resources from 2017 - 2020.
- Entering parliament in 2016, Littleproud spent 17 years at NAB in agribusiness banking before moving to Suncorp in 2011 as Executive Manager (business and agribusiness banking) for South West Queensland.
- Littleproud's father was deputy leader of the Queensland National Party and served as a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1983 - 2001. His grandfather was deputy mayor of Chinchilla Shire.
- Littleproud is a strong believer in free trade, supporter of small business, and agribusiness. He was one of four MPs to vote "no" during the 2017 same sex marriage vote.
- Most importantly, Littleproud supports net-zero by 2050. An issue that has sparked intense debate within the Nationals.
- Littleproud has 3 kids and split from his wife of 20 years in 2019.
Perin Davey was elected deputy leader, Bridget McKenzie will remain leader in the senate.
Here's what you need to know about Davey:
- 50 year old Perin Davey was elected as a Senator for New South Wales at the 2019 federal election.
- Davey is the Nationals' senate whip.
- Davey lives on a property outside the small NSW Riverina town of Conargo with her husband and two daughters.
- Davey left school and worked as a cadet journalist for three years at the Mudgee Guardian. Following this, she worked as a safari cook in Botswana for three years. Davey went on to hold roles at Gavin Anderson & Co, Australian Agricultural Company, and Murray Irrigation Limited. Davey has also served on the board of the New South Wales Irrigators' Council.
- Davey was a reservist in the Australian Army.
- Davey's British father Paul Davey was an ABC journalist that later served as federal director of the National Party.
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