Federal National Party Leaders Since 1920

The table below shows the full list of leaders of The Nationals since 1920.

The party was originally called the Country Party. In the 1970s it became the National Country Party, before dropping “country” altogether and becoming the National Party in the 1980s. Its official name is now The Nationals.

Earle Page, the party’s second leader, is its longest-serving, at 18 years, 5 months and 8 days. Page also had the longest service in the House of Representatives, representing Cowper (NSW) for 42 years between 1919 and 1961.

The shortest-serving leader was Charles Blunt, who served 11 months between 1989 and 1990. Having deposed his predecessor Ian Sinclair, Blunt lost his seat in the general election.

In its first 69 years since 1920, The Nationals had seven leaders. In contrast, the period since 1989 has also seen eight leaders, including Joyce’s two non-consecutive terms

The 44 years between 1940 and 1984 was a time of unparalleled stability, with just three leaders (Fadden, McEwen and Anthony).

Three leaders (Page, Fadden and McEwen) served briefly as prime minister. Page and McEwen were stop-gap leaders following the deaths of Lyons (1939) and Holt (1967), whilst Fadden was defeated in the House of Representatives (1941).

Nine of the party’s leaders have represented electorates in NSW. Three leaders have come from Queensland, whilst Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania provided one each. Barnaby Joyce represented Queensland as a senator before transferring to the NSW electorate of New England.

Aside from Littleproud, seven former leaders of the party are still living: Sinclair, Blunt, Anderson, Vaile, Truss, McCormack and Joyce. The oldest living former leader is Ian Sinclair, 95.