A senior figure within the Nationals has ruled out mounting a leadership challenge against David Littleproud, as internal pressure continues to build on the party leader ahead of parliament’s return.
Nationals senator Matt Canavan has confirmed he will not seek the party’s top job, despite speculation that a second challenger could emerge after Flynn MP Colin Boyce announced plans to call a leadership spill next week.
Mr Boyce said last week he intended to move against Mr Littleproud when parliament resumes, arguing that colleagues needed to “wake up to themselves” following the Coalition’s latest split in January. However, sources have told NewsWire that Mr Boyce does not have the numbers to succeed.
Even so, his announcement has fuelled renewed speculation about broader unrest within the party and the possibility of another senior figure stepping forward.
Senator Canavan moved to shut down those rumours on Sunday, insisting he would not challenge Mr Littleproud and saying his focus was on what he described as Australia’s worsening national direction.
“I can only speak for myself, but I don’t care about all this stuff,” Senator Canavan told Sky News. “I’m more worried about the country going down the gurgler.”
He said leadership was not a prerequisite for influence or impact within the party.
“When I ran for leader last year, I did so to put this ridiculous obsession with net zero emissions on the national agenda,” he said. “And I think I did a pretty good job of that.”
Mr Littleproud’s leadership has been under sustained pressure since the 2025 federal election, marked by two splits from the Coalition, persistent internal tensions and declining poll numbers.
Concerns within the party have also intensified amid reports that more Nationals MPs could follow former leader Barnaby Joyce in defecting to One Nation, as the far-right populist party records improved polling results.
The situation escalated further last month when Mr Littleproud withdrew the Nationals from the Coalition for a second time in eight months, after senior Nationals senators lost their shadow ministerial positions for breaching cabinet solidarity by voting against hate speech legislation.
The move stripped the Nationals of their remaining shadow portfolios and reduced the party’s influence within the opposition.
Despite the fallout, Senator Canavan said he supported Mr Littleproud’s handling of the Coalition split, arguing that the senators who defied the shadow cabinet had acted on principle.
“I’m very proud of our team and the approach we took to the Bill last week,” he said. “My Senate colleagues stood by their principles, and that’s exactly what people are crying out for right now.”
Mr Boyce is expected to formally raise his leadership challenge during a Nationals party room meeting on Monday.
