As soon as the recent Nationals leadership spill confirmed that Michael McCormack would remain the leader of the party by the slimmest of margins, there were already rumblings in Canberra that the battle for the party’s leadership was far from over. 

When Matt Canavan resigned from the resources portfolio in order to support Barnaby Joyce for the Nationals leadership, Joyce gained a powerful and influential ally.  

Even though he didn’t manage to prevail in the first leadership spill, the two prominent Nationals now only have to flip one vote for Joyce to reclaim the position he believes is rightfully his. 

These leadership battles have come at the...