Senator Joyce, who has crossed the floor to vote against the Coalition more than 20 times since he entered the Senate in 2005, said his new position as the Nationals’ Senate leader would not alter his ways. “I am who I am by the grace of God, and I’m not going to change,” he said.

The vote for the leadership was held among Senator Scullion and the four Nationals Senators. The nine lower house MPs did not vote. Federal Nationals leader Warren Truss was informed of the planned change only last night. It was unclear today whether he supported the move.