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David Littleproud, the leader of the Nationals, is bracing for a potential leadership challenge today as federal parliament reconvenes. Colin Boyce, a member of parliament, is expected to make a bid for the top spot.
Boyce’s challenge stems from dissatisfaction within the party following their decision to break ranks with the Liberals. This split was ignited when the Nationals voted against new hate speech legislation last month, after their proposed amendments to the bill were not accepted.
Expressing his concerns, Boyce, a representative from Queensland, criticized the Nationals for being “asleep at the wheel,” implying a lack of active leadership or direction.
Despite the looming challenge, Littleproud appears unfazed. Over the weekend, he expressed confidence in his leadership position, acknowledging Boyce’s right to contest. “He is well within his right to challenge for the leadership,” Littleproud stated during an interview with Today.
“He is well within his right (to challenge for the leadership),” Littleproud told Today.
”I’ll take counsel from my colleagues and I’ll take their guidance and their decision.”I believe passionately in the National Party and no matter the result, I’ll accept.”
Littleproud said the Nationals did not want to operate in a party room where “unilateral” decisions would be made.
But the Nationals and their former Coalition partners, the Liberal Party, have recorded dismal polling with voters flocking to One Nation. 
Boyce, who has been in federal parliament since 2022, has previously said the Nationals needed to change direction, and remain in the Coalition to challenge the increasing threat from Pauline Hanson’s party.
He announced last week that he will challenge Littleproud for the leadership of their party, describing the decision to split the Coalition for the second time in a year as “political suicide”.
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