Editor's note

Scott Morrison may have let out a great sigh of relief when Michael McCormack held on to the leadership of the National Party – and the deputy prime ministership – against an assault from Barnaby Joyce yesterday. As Michelle Grattan writes, a Joyce win would have been calamitous for Morrison, whose weakened political position was the reason there was a vacancy in the first place. If he hadn’t had a disastrously bungled summer, he might have toughed out the “sports rorts” affair and Bridget McKenzie might have kept her job – even though she deserved to lose it.

So now, McCormack stays in place, and the ambitious, articulate David Littleproud becomes his deputy – at 43, he has time on his side, and every reason to support his leader and wait his turn. Meanwhile, Morrison would do well to support his Coalition partner to try to quell the disquiet within the Nationals that the Liberals take them for granted. And if the Nationals decide they cannot make it to the next election with McCormack in charge, they would be better opting for Littleproud than Joyce, whose risk on every front is huge.

Amanda Dunn

Section Editor: Politics + Society

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