FEDERAL National Party leader Warren Truss has announced his resignation in a speech to the House of Representatives today in Canberra.
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Mr Truss said the party would meet tonight to hold a leadership ballot to determine the new leader.
A meeting has been scheduled for 8pm at Parliament House in Canberra with party whip and NSW MP Mark Coulton due to make an announcement to media afterwards.
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce is being touted as the likely replacement – and is expected to win unchallenged - with a raft of candidates expected to challenge for the deputy-leader’s position.
The party members expected to run for the deputy’s position include; Mr Coulton; NSW MP Michael McCormack; Victorian MP Darren Chester; NSW MP David Gillespie; NSW MP Luke Hartsuyker; NSW Senator Fiona Nash; and Queensland MP Keith Pitt.
The outcome is also due to impact on the party’s ministerial representation with Queensland demanding stronger presence for their nine members.
NT Senator Nigel Scullion is expected to retain his Indigenous Affairs portfolio.
Mr McCormack – who has now ruled himself out of the party’s leadership race - said Mr Truss would be remembered as one of the party’s great 12 leaders.
“I’m sure that the member for New England (Barnaby Joyce), his likely successor, will also make his mark as a great National Party leader,” he said.
Mr McCormack said Mr Truss also had a “very, very dry sense of humour” but also displayed great attention to detail.
“He’s absolutely meticulous with detail - no minister has been better across his brief than Warren,” he said.
“He has done a fine job unifying the National Party and restoring our stocks in 2007 when he reluctantly took over as leader.”
Federal National Party President Larry Anthony said history would mark Mr Truss as one of party’s greatest leaders.
He said not the least for taking the Party from the “despair” of the 2007 election loss to a near win in 2010 and triumph in 2013.
“In doing so, The Nationals’ numbers in the Federal Parliament have increased to a healthy 21 – made up of 15 MPs and six senators – with aims to increase that tally later this year,” he said.
“Warren is the sixth longest federal leader of the party since the Country Party was formed in 1920.
“His extraordinary service in the House of Representatives to the people of Wide Bay since 1990 means he is the equal fourth longest serving member of today’s Parliament.”
Mr Anthony said Mr Truss had been the “ballast for the Coalition and a calming force is a sea of change”.
“Since becoming leader in 2007, Warren’s proven leadership has worked as the steady hand with successive Liberal leaders,” he said.
“Politicians from all sides have learned to never underestimate Warren Truss.
“He has been a dependable and effective Deputy Prime Minister at the epicentre of government. He has been the quiet achiever delivering for regional Australia and the nation.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition leader Bill Shorten also congratulated Mr Truss while also acknowledging Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb’s retirement.
* more to come
