Truss resigns: Nats to decide new leader

Joyce, who is deputy leader of the Nationals, told the Sydney Morning Herald last month he’d throw his hat in the ring if Truss retired and was ready for the job.

Joyce stood unopposed as the candidate for National Party Leader in a party room ballot on Thursday evening, with New South Wales Senator Fiona Nash securing the vote to become his deputy.

“I want to thank my husband David and my boys Will and Henry – I wouldn’t be standing here as the first female deputy-leader of the National Party if it wasn’t for them”.

“You could bet the farm that Joyce will be elected”, Australian National University political analyst Andrew Hughes said.

Senator Nash said the most obvious difference was, “We have a girl as part of the leadership team”. It is an exciting time to be in regional Australia.

Nationals Senator John Williams told Sky News Joyce’s ability to sell a message helped scuttle the Rudd government’s ETS scheme.

“I think continuity in this portfolio is important and that’s been the prime minister’s advice to me as well”, he said.

“It is I must say spectacular when you turn on the television and the nation is talking about the National Party…”

“I hope not, because I think we do need amongst the leadership of our country a breadth of experience and a breadth of skills”.

The new appointment comes after a wave of departures from the coalition.

Agriculture Minister Mr Joyce indicated he would be making a decision in the next 24 hours about whether he would retain the portfolio, ahead of an expected Cabinet reshuffle.

Barnaby Joyce, a self-declared agrarian socialist who captured global headlines when he threatened to kill Johnny Depp’s dogs, is the frontrunner to become Australia’s new deputy prime minister.

Mr Truss also said a key achievement in previous and current roles ass transport minister was upgrading the Bruce Highway.

He said the Trade Minister needed to be someone who had a good understanding of Australian industries like agriculture which were benefitting from other trade deals and positive conditions.

“It was a great honour for me to be the leader of the party for something over eight years”, he said.

The veteran politician stepped down as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, as well as leader of the National Party, on February 11.

“I believe that is driven by their desire and their clear understanding that we are all in politics and we understand to have the greatest affect, you have to have the greatest goal of your numbers and to have 21 people working as one gives you better bang for your buck than five different groups of four”, he said. “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”, said Larry Anthony, Federal President of The Nationals, in a statement.

There has also been widespread praise for Warren Truss, who announced on Thursday he will not recontest the next federal election.