Joyce gets on with life as a backbencher
BARNABY Joyce has spoken out about the ongoing investigation into his travel expenses and said he does not expect to return as National Party leader.
After officially resigning as party leader and deputy prime minister on Monday, Mr Joyce told media outside Parliament House yesterday he would not be dwelling on his move to the backbench.
“You don’t wallow in it, you just get on with it,” he said.
He also addressed the official investigation launched by the Prime Minister last Wednesday – into whether Mr Joyce had breached ministerial standards – saying it had nothing to do with his decision to resign.
It was revealed in Senate estimates on Monday that the investigation into Mr Joyce’s conduct by the Secretary of Prime Minister and Cabinet was dropped once he had resigned.
Mr Joyce said it was the “Prime Minister’s prerogative” to launch the investigation.
A second investigation launched on February 7 by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority, into his travel with his partner and former staffer Vikki Campion, is ongoing.
Mr Joyce said his expenses claims had already been thoroughly probed and nothing had been found.
“It’s just another poring through of what’s already been gone through,” he said.
Mr Joyce appeared more relaxed as he spoke to reporters outside Parliament House.
He wished new Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack well, saying: “I think Michael has a big job in front of him and I wish him all the very best.
“It is an incredible position, the Deputy Prime Minister of our nation, incredible responsibility.”
Mr Joyce reiterated that he wished to provide a “circuit-breaker” from the spotlight – for his family – finish off his book and engage more with his electorate.
He said the stress on his family had been a factor in his decision to step down.
“Everybody else gets dragged into this and it is devastating,” he said.
“They don’t want me on the front page every day. I owe a responsibility to them as well to get them out of it.”
He added that he never ruled anything in or out but did not “expect” to return as Nationals leader.
He also said he would not be sniping from the backbench.
“You make the most of everything in life and I am going to use this opportunity to get around the electorate, deal with the people (that) when I was deputy prime minister didn’t have as much chance as they possibly could to see me.”