The re-elected MP for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster, has told Flow on Wednesday morning she will have her hand up for the deputy leadership of the National Party next week.
The Nationals spill their leadership positions as a matter of course after every election, Dr Webster said, and she'd have her hand up for deputy leader - a position presently held by potential leader, southern Queensland's David Littleproud.
Anne Webster won her north western Victorian seat of Mallee convincingly on Saturday and told Flow she didn't think it was good for the Nationals to be dominated by Queensland representatives.
Hear the full interview with Anne Webster, member for Mallee, on the Flow podcast player below:
On Monday, former Nationals leader Michael McCormack told Flow that changing leader to Barnaby Joyce last June was a mistake. The strongly re-endorsed member for Riverina in southern New South Wales spoke about the campaigns against the Coalition government in inner city seats using leader Barnaby Joyce as a negative campaign image - something he did not believe had occurred in his time as deputy leader and transport and infrastructure minister.
Mr McCormack indicated that the Nationals' nationwide vote had declined compared to the previous election, both of which saw the Nationals hold all of their seats whilst in Saturday's election, the Liberals lost possibly as many as seventeen.
Anne Webster's own vote grew, however in 2019 in winning the seat she had to contend with a Liberal candidate in the conventional run-off between coalition partners, which did not occur on Saturday.
Current deputy leader David Littleproud is considered the front-runner to take the leadership if Barnaby Joyce is unsuccessful next week, whilst fellow Queenslander Keith Pitt is being discussed as a potential member of the Nationals leadership duo.
Dr Webster also acknowledged the potential powerful duo she and NSW Liberal and former environment minister, Sussan Ley, would make in leadership representing adjacent sides of the River Murray in the west of their states.
The Victorian Nationals member for Mallee said the Liberals member for Farrer would be an excellent deputy leader of the Liberal Party.
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