Joyce and PM get stuck into each other
Barnaby’s ‘private matter’ now even more public as leaders brawl
PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has reacted publicly and rather passive aggressively to his Deputy Prime Minister’s “savage” comments yesterday.
In a media conference after Barnaby Joyce described Mr Turnbull as “inept”, the Prime Minister turned passive aggressive, thanking Mr Joyce “for his support”.
“I’ve seen Barnaby’s press conference and, look, I understand it is a very stressful time,” Mr Turnbull said.
“There is a need to have more respectful workplaces.”
“I have not sought in any way to influence the deliberations of the National Party. Neither I nor my colleagues have made any criticism of the National Party, expressing views of disapproval or criticism of Barnaby’s own conduct.
“It is not criticism of the National Party, indeed the sentiments that I expressed yesterday, which I stand by, but I don’t need to repeat again now, those sentiments are quite consistent with those expressed by many members of the National Party itself, and that’s all I have to say.”
Mr Turnbull said he had not been in touch with Mr Joyce since the war of words began.
Earlier, Mr Joyce ended speculation that he would resign and directly responded to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s comments in a scathing media conference, describing Mr Turnbull’s words as “inept and “hurtful”.
It came minutes after the PM delivered his own media conference – called a “train wreck” by commentators.
After extreme pressure from both sides of politics and the public, Mr Joyce slammed the Prime Minister and described his comments over the affair with partner Vikki Campion as “unnecessary”. On Thursday, Mr Turnbull announced his deputy would not be acting prime minister when the PM visits the US next week, and described Mr Joyce’s affair with former staffer Ms Campion “a shocking error of judgment”.
Yesterday Mr Joyce was defiant in his position as Deputy Prime Minister and as the Nationals Party leader.
Referring to the PM’s words, he said, “I thought that was completely unnecessary and all that is going to do is basically pull the scab off to everybody to have a look at.
“Comments by the Prime Minister yesterday at his press conference, with regards to that, I have to say that, in many instances, they were ... they caused further harm.
“I believe they were in many instances ... unnecessary.
“The reason I say that is it was public knowledge what was being repeated, it ran on the front pages of papers and all it does is reinvest in hurt of other people.”
Opposition leader Bill Shorten called for Mr Turnbull to sack his Deputy Prime Minister “from the Cabinet”.
“If Malcolm Turnbull doesn’t have the courage to sack Barnaby Joyce, he doesn’t have the courage to be Prime Minister,” Mr Shorten told a press conference.
ALL IT DOES IS REINVEST IN HURT OF OTHER PEOPLE