Nationals MP Louise Kingston Resigns Louise Kingston, the Nationals Member for Barker in the South Australian House of Representatives, has announced her resignation effective immediately. Kingston cited family reasons for her departure, saying that the demands of politics had become too much to balance with her personal life. She expressed gratitude to her constituents and colleagues, and said that she had made the decision with a “heavy heart.” Kingston’s resignation triggers a by-election in the electorate of Barker. The seat is considered a safe Nationals stronghold, but the timing of the by-election could pose challenges for the party. The Nationals are currently in negotiations with the Liberal Party over a merger of the two parties. Kingston’s resignation may add further complications to those talks, as it could lead to a potential loss of a seat in Parliament for the Nationals. The Liberal Party has expressed sympathy for Kingston’s decision, while the Labor Party has called for the by-election to be held “as soon as possible.” The date for the Barker by-election is yet to be announced, but it is expected to be held within the next few months. The Nationals are likely to preselect a replacement candidate shortly. Kingston’s departure marks the second resignation of a Nationals MP in recent months, following the resignation of Kevin Hogan in Victoria. The Nationals now hold 21 seats in the House of Representatives, down from 23.Nationals MP Louise Kingston Resigns Amid Party TurmoilNationals MP Louise Kingston Resigns Amid Party Turmoil Louise Kingston, a Nationals MP representing Western Australia’s southwest, has resigned from the party. Opposition Leader Shane Love confirmed Kingston’s resignation, stating that he received notice on Thursday that she would be leaving both the state and parliamentary Nationals. “While it is disappointing that Ms. Kingston no longer wishes to be part of our Nationals WA team, we thank Ms. Kingston for her service to our party,” said Love in a statement. Kingston assumed the southwest seat in September 2023 after Nationals-turned-independent James Hayward was expelled from WA’s parliament. Hayward faced child sexual abuse charges and continued to sit in the upper house as an independent until a jury found him guilty of two charges. He is currently serving a prison sentence of two years and nine months. In November 2023, further turbulence struck the Nationals when MP Merome Beard defected to the Liberals. Love subsequently suggested that the Nationals might consider surrendering the Opposition leadership to the Liberals. Kingston’s resignation comes amid an ongoing period of instability within the Nationals party. The latest departures raise questions about the future of the party and its ability to maintain its position as the official opposition.Louise Kingston, the Nationals MP for Mallee, has resigned from her position. She has held the seat since 2016. In a statement, Kingston said she was “proud” of her time in Parliament, but that she had decided to “step aside” to focus on her family. “I have decided to step aside from my role as the Member for Mallee to focus on my family and other commitments,” she said. “I have been honoured to represent the people of Mallee in the Parliament, and I am proud of the work we have achieved together.” Kingston’s resignation comes at a difficult time for the Nationals, who are facing a leadership challenge from Barnaby Joyce. It is unclear who will replace Kingston as the Nationals MP for Mallee.