HAT’S ALL BARNABY, YOU’VE GOT TO GO
Coalition braces for chaos
BESIEGED Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce yesterday called Malcolm Turnbull’s criticism of him “inept’’. But the attack has opened up a new front in the war within the conservatives with Nationals stalwart and former Gold Coast MP Judy Gamin backing the Prime Minister, saying “common sense must prevail’’.
A BITTER feud between Malcolm Turnbull and Barnaby Joyce is threatening to tear down the Federal Government after the deputy PM launched extraordinary attack at the Prime Minister.
The Nationals leader under intense pressure to quit over the scandal which has ended his 24-year marriage lashed out at Mr Turnbull’s condemnation of his affair with a staffer as “inept”, “harmful” and “unnecessary”.
Mr Joyce also told the PM and other Liberals to butt out of Nationals leadership issues, claiming the more they interfered, the more his party room support grew.
But furious Liberals were last night vowing Mr Joyce had to go or be sacked while the Gold Coast Bulletin understands a fresh attempt to remove him as leader could come from the Nationals when parliament resumes later this month.
Mr Joyce hit out at Mr Turnbull after he imposed a sex ban between ministers and staff on Thursday and said Mr Joyce should “consider his options” over his “dreadful” and “appalling” affair with his now pregnant staffer, Vikki Campion.
Mr Joyce said the comments had “caused further harm”.
“I listened to it and 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,” he said.
A handful of Nationals MPs were also seething over Mr Turnbull’s move.
One said it had placed “huge strain on the Coalition agreement” and it was a “dog’s act” for Mr Turnbull to be so personal.
Mr Turnbull was forced to front the media for the second time in a few hours to respond to Mr Joyce’s attacks, saying he understood it was a “very stressful time” for his colleague.
“I have not sought in any way to influence the deliberations of the National Party,” Mr Turnbull said.
“Expressing views of disapproval or criticism of Barnaby’s own conduct is not criticism of the National Party.”
Mr Joyce said he was hoping to continue to work with the prime minister.
“I am intending to make sure that, like all relationships, this relationship gets back onto an even keel.”
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said neither man was fit to lead the country and demanded an end to the Coalition infighting.
“This crisis cannot be allowed to continue,” he said.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, who will be acting prime minister next week with Mr Turnbull in the United States, said the pair could continue to work together.
“This has been a difficult week for the government but it has also been a very difficult week for Barnaby himself, his wife, his kids and his new partner for that matter,” he said.