Queensland MP Colin Boyce will move a spill motion against Nationals leader David Littleproud following the party’s split with the Liberals.
Boyce, who represents the Queensland electorate of Flynn, said he would launch a spill motion against Mr Littleproud in the coming week when parliament resumes.
The move, announced on Wednesday, followed the Nationals walking away from their coalition partnership with the Liberals over hate-speech laws.
Mr Boyce will run for the leadership of the party at a meeting due to take place on Monday.
He said the coalition needed to reunite.
“The reality is, (if) they follow the course they’re on now, we are going over the political cliff,” he told Sky News.
Boyce was named as one of the MPs One Nation believed would follow Member for New England Barnaby Joyce to the fringe party. He also voted with Joyce on last weeks hate speech legislation, seconded his doomed anti-net zero bill, and sat next to him the parliament, including during his speech resigning from the Nationals. Joyce has also campaigned with him on numerous occasions in his central Queensland seat.
David Littleproud said he respected the right of Nationals members to have a say, and pointed to his record, including the Nationals holding all their seats in the last election and the vote against hate speech laws.
“As Leader of The Nationals, I have always respected the Party Room’s decisions and direction, that includes the right to voice different opinions.
“We celebrate that freedom within The Nationals,” he said.
“I stand by my record as leader of The Nationals and what our Party Room has achieved, through important policy work and standing up for regional, rural and remote Australia.”
Colin Boyce had been notably absent from all party room meetings during last week’s emergency sitting, fuelling speculation he was planning to defect from the party.
More to come.