Imagine a cattle farmer so fed up with the state of Australian politics that he’s willing to throw his hat into the ring for the Nationals leadership. Sounds like a plot twist, right? Meet Colin Boyce, a Taroom cattle farmer turned politician, who’s making waves with his bold move. But here’s where it gets controversial: while Boyce claims he’s ‘furious’ about the Coalition’s implosion, critics are scratching their heads, wondering if this is more about personal ambition than party unity. Is Boyce the savior the Nationals need, or is this just another chapter in the party’s ongoing drama?
When Boyce first entered the Queensland Parliament in 2017, his biggest challenge came from One Nation. Fast forward three years, and his no-nonsense approach—including crossing the floor on a mining rehabilitation bill and a climate speech that controversially urged us to ‘celebrate’ global heating—had won over One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. The minor party even endorsed him, boosting his vote by 24%. On ABC Radio, Boyce channeled Sun Tzu, declaring, ‘The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without going to battle.’ He proudly added, ‘That is exactly what I have done in Callide.’
This week, Boyce announced his bid for the Nationals leadership, blaming egos and personalities for the Coalition’s downfall. ‘I am not happy about it one little bit,’ he told 4CC Radio. ‘It could have been avoided, but unfortunately, it wasn’t. A complete debacle.’ Despite being a loyal supporter of former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce (who recently jumped ship to One Nation), Boyce insists he’s staying put in the party he joined in the 1980s. But he admits it’s ‘a distinct possibility’ others might defect. And this is the part most people miss: Boyce’s critics, including those within his own party, argue his leadership bid makes little sense and predict he’ll struggle to gain support in the party room.
Boyce’s political journey is anything but ordinary. He was one of seven Nationals MPs who crossed the floor on hate speech legislation, a move that sparked resignations and ultimately led to the Coalition’s split. Now, he’s calling for a leadership spill to save the Coalition, while also hinting at a challenge to Liberal leader Sussan Ley. ‘I don’t know how you salvage it in respect of the Liberal Party leadership,’ he said, ‘but I’m quite sure they’re reviewing the situation.’
After leaving the Queensland Parliament in 2022, Boyce won the federal seat of Flynn, continuing his staunch opposition to net zero climate policies and renewable energy. His 2020 Facebook ads labeled renewable energy a ‘fantasy,’ and following the Callide coal-fired power station explosion, he slammed opponents of new coal plants as ‘mind-numbing, eco-Marxist millennials and upper middle-class ‘wokes’ indoctrinated with quasi-religious beliefs.’ Boyce is also a founding member of the Saltbush Club, which promotes climate science denial and claims there’s no climate emergency. Before the 2024 election, Guardian Australia revealed he’d described blackouts as ‘a big political opportunity’ and urged MPs to adopt a ‘do nothing strategy’ to stoke opposition to net zero policies.
At 62, Boyce has never been seen as frontbench material by his colleagues, a point his opponents are quick to highlight. Former Queensland Deputy Premier Cameron Dick once quipped in parliament, ‘Colin Boyce was a crank, but at least he never pretended to be anything else.’ But is Boyce’s unapologetic stance exactly what the Nationals need, or is he just another divisive figure in a party already on the brink?
As Boyce steps into the spotlight, one thing is clear: his leadership bid is anything but conventional. Whether he’s the answer to the Nationals’ woes or just another symptom of their troubles remains to be seen. What do you think? Is Boyce the right person to lead the Nationals, or is this just another misstep for the party? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over.
