Push to oust Joyce implodes
The plot to topple Barnaby Joyce (above) has fallen apart, with the Deputy Prime Minister staring down angry Nationals colleagues who want him to resign.
THE plot to topple Barnaby Joyce has fallen apart as the Deputy Prime Minister stared down angry Nationals colleagues who wanted him to resign.
Nationals MPs told the Cairns Post last night that Mr Joyce would “undoubtedly” remain as leader for the time being with several angry at their Liberal counterparts for attempting to intervene in their party room.
But one MP, who thinks the Deputy Prime Minister should go, blamed the “amateur” behaviour of his colleagues who tried to force him out.
The MP said: “They squibbed it. It was amateur hour to be honest. Talk of delegations before delegations were even formed – it was laughable.”
Deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie, in her first public comments since Mr Joyce’s affair with his former staffer was revealed, gave her “absolute rolled gold guarantee” that Joyce would remain in charge.
The Victorian senator said the idea of colleagues forming a delegation to ask Mr Joyce to resign was “mystical” and “incredible”, accusing other Nationals of “talking a big game to the media and not delivering”.
“Barnaby Joyce has the full support of the party. This is the reality,” she said.
Nationals backbencher Ken O’Dowd said yesterday morning that a group of colleagues were visiting Mr Joyce to discuss his future and that he hoped the leadership issue would be “resolved today or tomorrow”.
“He will probably need the advice and someone needs to tell him where the party stands at this stage and it will be a cordial meeting,” he said.
But his Queensland colleague George Christensen – who sources suggested would “blow up” if Mr Joyce was replaced – hit out at Nationals MPs pushing for change and said only four or five wanted to get rid of their leader.
He confirmed individual MPs had voiced their concerns with Mr Joyce but dismissed suggestions that a delegation asked him to resign.
“Once again it is people talking about themselves down here rather than talking about the Australian public and people hate that more than a sexual affair that has gone on,” Mr Christensen told The Australian. “People need to take a long hard look at themselves.”
Senator McKenzie said Mr Joyce was a “rock star” in regional communities and that “100 per cent” of the calls her office received yesterday from voters were supportive of him.
She also criticised colleagues who “undermined” Mr Joyce because they were disappointed by last year’s ministerial reshuffle. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull again confirmed Mr Joyce would be Acting Prime Minister next week.