A tearful David Littleproud has announced he is resigning as the leader of the federal National Party in a shock development for the junior Coalition party.
“I’ve got to a juncture where I believe it is time,” he told reporters in Canberra this afternoon.
“I believe that it is now time to transition to a new leader.”
David Littleproud has announced his resignation as Nationals leader. (Nine)
While he will quit as the leader of the federal parliamentary party, Littleproud said he won’t resign as the local member for his regional Queensland seat of Maranoa.
Asked why he was pulling the pin after four years as party leader, Littleproud said he no longer had the energy for the role.
“I’m buggered, mate,” he said.
“You’ve to be honest with yourself… I love the National Party. I grew up in it. I’ll bleed it till the day I die – green and gold.
“I love it, and it would be wrong for me to say that I’m the right person to continue to lead.”
Having become Nationals leader following the 2022 federal election, the 49-year-old leaves behind a mixed legacy.Â
Littleproud oversaw two Coalition splits in less than a year amid a fraught working relationship with then-opposition leader Sussan Ley. (Alex Ellinghausen)
Held with more than 70 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote, his electorate of Maranoa is one of the safest in the country, and the Nationals held all of their seats last year despite the wipeout suffered by the Liberals.
However, under his leadership, several MPs – Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Barnaby Joyce and Andrew Gee – defected, the Nationals have faced a major threat to their primary vote from One Nation, and he oversaw two splits from the Liberal Party in less than a year.
The second ultimately led to Sussan Ley being deposed as opposition leader.
A key proponent of the controversial nuclear policy taken to the last election, Littleproud said he didn’t sleep for days following the Coalition’s catastrophic defeat, and that he’d become a “punching bag” in recent months.
Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack may make another tilt at the party’s top job following Littleproud’s resignation. (Alex Ellinghausen)
“I’ve never had that trauma in my life before,” he said.Â
“And then it just kept going.”
Standing alongside his wife, Amelia, Littleproud said he was looking forward to spending more time with his family.
“I get to go home to my wife, Amelia, and my family and I want to spend more time with them,” he said.
“I still love coming to this place and I want to come back as I did when I first came to parliament with a spring in my excitement.” 
Littleproud didn’t suggest who he thought should replace him at the helm of the Nationals, although outspoken conservative senator Matt Canavan contested for the leadership last year, while former leader Michael McCormack may also consider a tilt.
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