Joyce and Nash returned unopposed as Nats leaders

Both members were re-appointed to the prime leadership roles during the Nationals first party-room meeting, held in Canberra this week, and were also elected unopposed.

In February, Mr Joyce was elevated from deputy-leader to the top job after Warren Truss announced he would be stepping down - having led the party for seven years – deciding against recontesting his Queensland seat of Wide Bay at this year’s federal election.

Senator Nash and Mr Joyce both celebrated 10 years in the federal parliament last year and performed strongly during the election campaign, which saw the Nationals gain an extra Lower House seat, in the re-elected Coalition government.

NSW Nationals MP Mark Coulton was returned as the party’s Lower House whip; a position he may need to relinquish if he earns a ministerial promotion in the new government.

The Nationals’ Senate team also met this week where NT Senator Nigel Scullion was re-appointed as the Upper House leader and Queensland Senator Barry O’Sullivan in the whip’s role, as the party’s core leadership posts remained unchanged.

The Nationals new members of federal parliament were also introduced at the meeting including former representatives of the NSW and Victorian State parliaments.

Andrew Gee replaced John Cobb in the NSW seat of Calare having served in the NSW parliament for five years, representing the Orange electorate.

Former Fremantle Dockers AFL coach and Geelong player Damian Drum won the seat of Murray off the Liberals, in shifting to Canberra from the Victorian parliament’s Upper House, where he started in 2002 and has served as a minister.

Mr Joyce was buoyed by the Nationals holding onto the two critical Queensland rural seats of Capricornia and Flynn which helped the Coalition form a majority government and defeat Labor.

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry arrived late after her flight into Canberra was held up due to fog and was welcomed with a standing ovation, at the meeting.

New Wide Bay MP Llew O'Brien was also given a warm welcome into the federal parliamentary team, as was Maranoa MP David Littleproud who replaced Bruce Scott having also stepped down after 26 years in federal parliament, like Mr Truss.

Page MP Kevin Hogan was another National who had a strong election win and was given warm praise by the leader, fending off Labor’s Janelle Saffin who was seeking to reclaim the seat she lost at the 2013 poll.

Mr Joyce also won a ferocious battle against Tony Windsor in New England.

He told the gathering the Nationals were now in a position of greater influence in the parliament after likely increasing its number of members from 21 to 22, if Senator O’Sullivan is returned.

Mr Joyce said rural and regional voters support his party during a strong grass roots election campaign believing “we represent the reason they support politics; they put so much trust in us”.

“We believe that our party represents the best outcomes for people in regional areas because we have an undivided focus on them,” he said.