Start date December 3, 2007 | ||
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A leadership spill of the National Party of Australia took place on 3 December 2007.
The Liberal-National coalition was defeated at the 2007 federal election by the Australian Labor Party led by Kevin Rudd. Party leader Mark Vaile announced that he would resign as party leader, but that he would continue to sit out his parliamentary term as a backbencher; he also criticised suggestions that the Liberals and the Nationals should merge into a single party. Senator Barnaby Joyce has stated he would lead the party if asked to do so, but that he didn't expect to be asked. Deputy Leader Warren Truss, former Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran and NSW backbencher John Cobb were all named as contenders. NSW members Kay Hull and Luke Hartsuyker were also considered as potential deputies. Queensland MP Bruce Scott has also stated he is interested in a post in the party leadership.
After McGauran pulled out, Truss emerged as the frontrunner (and the only announced candidate), having the support of both Vaile and Joyce. Truss expected Hartsuyker to run for deputy leader, but at the party meeting, Truss was elected as leader unanimously and Country Liberal Party senator Nigel Scullion was elected as his deputy. Ron Boswell, who was the party's Senate leader, immediately agreed to hand over this position to Scullion.