Nationals MP Darren Chester.Credit:Simon Schluter
“We need to be honest with each other in the party room and take some responsibility for the Liberal losses in the city,” Chester said.
“How we develop our policies,deliver our message,and work with our Coalition partners in the future will determine whether we can return to government and deliver for regional communities.”
Following the Coalition's election loss,furious city-based Liberal MPs have vented their frustration over Joyce’s comments during the campaign deriding the Coalition’s net-zero emissions policy,which they claim damaged their election chances.
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While the National Party held on to all 16 lower house seats in Saturday’s federal election,the Liberal Party lost a string of once-safe electorates in Melbourne,Sydney and Brisbane held by more moderate Liberals MPs.
In the days since the election,Joyce has repeatedly rejected criticism that his comments surrounding the net-zero emissions target had harmed his colleagues in the Coalition.
Three Nationals MPs,speaking toThe Ageand Sydney Morning Herald on the condition of anonymity,said they also expect deputy leaderDavid Littleproud to mount a challenge on Monday.