Lambie taunts Barnaby

TASMANIAN senator Jacqui Lambie has taken to YouTube calling on Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce to resign over the Shenhua coal mine in New South Wales.

Senator Lambie also taunted Mr Joyce about acceding to Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s directive that he not appear on ABC TV’s Q&A program.

She said Mr Joyce should resign over the $1.2 billion mine, which is situated in prime agricultural land.

“Barnaby, I agree with you, it is ridiculous that you would have a mine in the middle of Australia’s best agricultural land, but what is even more ridiculous is that we’ve got a local member who’s also minister for agriculture and had allowed this to happen on his watch,” Senator Lambie said.

“And no Barnaby, you haven’t done everything in your power to stop the mine.

“You could resign from the front bench — because obviously the Liberals have no respect for you and the Nationals.”

Mr Joyce said his resignation would serve no purpose.

He also criticised former independent member for New England Tony Windsor, who has indicated he might return to politics over the issue.

Senator Lambie said she would appear on Q&A on July 20.

“Why don’t you come on too?

“Stop being the Liberals’ lapdog and bring back the old Nationals’ attack dog,” she said.