Nationals pick Anthony as party president

The Nationals have chosen former federal minister and mining lobbyist Larry Anthony as the party's president in the lead up to next year's federal election.

Mr Anthony was elected unopposed at the party's federal conference meeting on Sunday, Nationals federal director Scott Mitchell said on Twitter.

The Howard government minister's recent role as a lobbyist for the controversial Shenhua mine project in northern NSW has upset some in the party, although Mr Anthony told AAP he had divested himself of all potential conflicts of interest.