National Party of Australia

The National Party of Australia is the third biggest political party in Australia. It was first called the Country Party when it started in 1920 and then became the National Country Party in 1975. In 1982 it became the National Party.

The National Party represents the interests of people who live in rural areas, that is, not in big cities. It normally joins together with the Liberal Party to form a coalition government. It has fewer people in Parliament than the Liberal Party. The current leader is Warren Truss. When the National Party is in a coalition government its leader is usually the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Party was quite powerful during the 1940s, 1950's and 1960s. Because it worked closely with the United Australia and later Liberal Party, three National leaders - Earle Page, Arthur Fadden and John McEwen - were Prime Minister for a short time.^[1][2][3] The Party is strongest in Queensland, where it has had several State Premiers. In 2008, the Liberal Party and National Party came together in Queensland and are now called the "Liberal National Party of Queensland".

The party's federal parliamentary leader since 2022 is David Littleproud. He replaced Barnaby Joyce following a leadership spill after the 2022 federal election.

1. ↑ corporateName=National Archives of Australia; address=Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes. "About - Earle Page (7–26 April 1939) and Ethel Page". primeministers.naa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. ↑ corporateName=National Archives of Australia; address=Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes. "About - Arthur Fadden (29 August – 7 October 1941) and Ilma Fadden". primeministers.naa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 26 July 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
3. ↑ corporateName=National Archives of Australia; address=Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes. "About - John McEwen (19 December 1967 – 10 January 1968) and Ann McEwen". primeministers.naa.gov.au.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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