Nationals leader David Littleproud faces spill as Colin Boyce confirms challenge

Nationals leader David Littleproud is set to face a leadership challenge when federal parliament resumes next week, after a backbench MP confirmed he will move a spill motion.

Queensland MP Colin Boyce, who represents the regional electorate of Flynn, announced on Wednesday he intends to challenge Mr Littleproud for the party's top job at a Nationals party-room meeting scheduled for Monday.

Mr Boyce said the Coalition's recent fracture with the Liberals over hate-speech legislation had placed the Nationals on a dangerous path, warning the political fallout could be severe if the divide is not repaired.

"The reality is, if they continue down the course they're on now, we're heading over a political cliff," Mr Boyce said. He argued the Coalition needed to reunite to remain electorally competitive and effective in opposition.

The announcement has caught many within the National Party of Australia off guard. Several Nationals MPs, speaking privately, said they first learned of Mr Boyce's intention when he revealed it during a live television appearance.

Mr Boyce said his aim was to give colleagues an "option" to reconsider the current leadership, criticising Mr Littleproud's handling of last week's decision to walk away from the Coalition partnership.

Despite the surprise, party insiders downplayed the likelihood of an imminent leadership change. One Nationals MP described Mr Littleproud's backing in the party room as "rock solid", while another said the spill motion was unlikely to succeed.

Speculation has also emerged about Mr Boyce's longer-term intentions. Two Nationals MPs suggested a failed challenge could be used to justify a future defection to Pauline Hanson's One Nation, although others rejected that suggestion, saying they did not believe he would leave the party.

The leadership contest comes at a volatile moment for the Nationals, as the party weighs its strategy following the Coalition split and prepares for the next phase of parliamentary battles.