Updated ,first published
David Littleproud has resigned as the leader of the Nationals.
He made the announcement at a press conference in Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m buggered and I’ve had enough,” he said. “[Continuing] would be the wrong thing for me to do. I love the National Party.
“It would be wrong for me to say that I’m the right person to continue to lead. That’s tough for me to say. I think someone better can do it because I don’t have the energy.”
Littleproud said he would continue to serve as the member for Maranoa.
“I’ll serve this great party, this great Coalition, any way they want me to, but my time is over as a leader. I’ve done all I can do and all I want to do,” Littleproud said.
He said the pressure during the election campaign had taken its toll, and there were nights when he didn’t sleep.
“It’s time for me to feel normal again. It’s been a pretty rough road since the election,” Littleproud said, pausing to rein in his emotions.
