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 David Littleproud. 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.
National Party Of Australia Media
Sir Earle Page, Prime Minister of Australia 1939
Sir Arthur Fadden, Prime Minister of Australia 1941
Sir John McEwen, Prime Minister of Australia 1967–68
John McEwen being sworn in as Prime Minister on 19 December 1967.
Prime Minister John Gorton and new Deputy Prime Minister Doug Anthony at the swearing-in of new Country Party ministers to the Second Gorton Ministry on 5 February 1971 following the retirement of McEwen.
John McEwen House, The National Party's headquarters in Canberra
Earle Page
Archie Cameron – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Navy, and Minister for Commerce in the second Menzies ministry
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References
- ↑ corporateName=National Archives of Australia; address=Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes. About - Earle Page (7–26 April 1939) and Ethel Page. primeministers.naa.gov.au. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
- ↑ 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. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
- ↑ 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.
