Barnaby Joyce ‘not really’ sad about losing National Party leadership to former deputy David Littleproud after Federal Election

Barnaby Joyce has issued a bizarre statement declaring he is “not really” sad following his defeat for the National Party leadership.

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce said the new Nationals leadership team has a “mighty task ahead of them” after he lost the party leadership to David Littleproud.

Mr Littleproud defeated fellow challenger Darren Chester and Mr Joyce during a mammoth two-hour party room meeting on Monday.

The member for Maranoa, who preached leadership through “common sense and being in the sensible centre”, was elected alongside Senator Perin Davey as deputy leader, while Senator Bridget McKenzie was returned as Senate leader.

Stream more on politics with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022

After two stints as Nationals leader and deputy prime minister, Mr Joyce was defeated despite the party holding onto all of its lower house seats and gaining a Senator on May 21.

But in a bizarre statement after being ousted, Mr Joyce said: “I suppose you think I am sad. Not really”.

The former leader said he “gave every ounce” of energy to tend to the needs of regional Australia and ensure greater investment in the regions.

“I want to congratulate David, Perin and Bridget,” he said.

“They have a mighty task ahead of them and I will give them all the support I can.

“Now, I have a chance to get back to my second greatest love, after my family, and that is my beloved people of New England, where I will have more time to get around my electorate and to be a person of service to them.

“I look forward to continuing on my work on behalf of my nation and on behalf of my electorate.”

Mr Joyce is expected to stay in Parliament but there was speculation even if he had won the leadership ballot that he would leave politics before the next election.

It took more than two hours for a winner to be declared despite the small party-room of 22 people.

There was confusion around how many members would be voting, with reports initially emerging there was 21 in the room.

The leadership change came after a significant defeat for the Liberal Party at the 2022 Federal Election.

While the National Party was able to keep all of its lower house seats, the senior Coalition partner suffered losses across the country.

Mr Joyce has argued the result justified his return to the leadership, while some MPs including Mr Littleproud and Mr Chester said the party needed to take some responsibility for Liberal losses in the cities.