National Party of Cygnia leadership spills, 2018 (Joan of What?)

Between 21 and 24 August 2018, elections for the federal leadership of the  was held. Three separate ballots were held during this time. The first election was triggered during a regular caucus meeting, when incumbent leader declared the leadership vacant. Former Shadow Immigration Minister announced his candidacy, although Turnbull won the election by 11 votes, allowing him to remain as leader.

Dutton called for a second leadership ballot on 23 August. Initially, Turnbull refused to spill the leadership, but through the course of the day, key supporters of Turnbull withdrew their support, forcing him to concede. After Congress adjourned at noon WST on 23 August, Turnbull announced that he no longer had the support of the majority of the caucus, and that he would arrange for a leadership spill to be held the following day.

On 24 August, at a specially convened meeting of the National Party Caucus, Turnbull proposed a spill motion which was passed 75 votes to 66. Turnbull then stood aside, choosing not to contest the ensuing leadership election. Three candidates subsequently nominated themselves for the leadership: former Shadow Immigration Minister, Deputy Leader and Shadow Treasurer. Dutton and Bishop were seen as representatives of the conservative and moderate factions of the National Party respectively, while Morrison was considered to be a compromise candidate between the two.

While Dutton won a plurality in the first round, none of the three candidates were able to secure an absolute majority. Bishop, who received the fewest votes in the first round, was eliminated in the second round. In the second round, most of Bishop's supporters rallied around Morrison, who as a result achieved a close victory in the second ballot, scraping by with just one vote more than Dutton. Consequently, Morrison became Leader of the federal National Party and Leader of the Opposition.

After the spill motion was passed, Bishop announced that, regardless of the election's outcome, she would resign from the deputy leadership. As a result, an election was also held for that position. , and  nominated themselves for deputy leader. In the first ballot, Frydenberg achieved a majority vote in the caucus, and he as a result was elected Deputy Leader of the Party as well as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.