Unrest moves to Nats
Joyce supporters want Truss to quit as leader
HE may be little, but this baby owl is destined for big things at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.
Six-month-old Griffin the sooty owl recently moved from Featherdale Wildlife Park to begin training for Taronga’s Free-flight Bird Show. And his trainers have something special planned for Griffin — although it’s still a secret.
“We are training Griffin to do something completely unique,” keeper Brendan Host said. “It will take members of the audience to pull off but it will make a lasting memory for those lucky enough to be involved.”
Griffin is training daily with his keepers and it is hoped he will be making his debut by the end of the year. THE National Party has been hit with leadership unrest, with supporters of Barnaby Joyce using the Liberal coup as an opportunity to agitate for their man to be promoted to deputy prime minister.
Mr Joyce, the Agriculture Minister, would be fasttracked to replace leader Warren Truss under the proposal being worked on by his supporters.
The revelations come four days after Malcolm Turnbull ousted Tony Abbott from the top job in a Liberal partyroom ballot.
While Mr Joyce has vowed he would never challenge Mr Truss, the Nationals are also being pressured to freshen up their team in Sunday’s planned Cabinet reshuffle, with Senator Fiona Nash likely to rewarded at the cost colleague Nigel Scullion.
That would give Mr Turnbull the chance to promote three women, including Michaelia Cash and Marise Payne, to Cabinet.
With a federal election less than a year away, some Nationals say Mr Truss should be of resolve the succession ahead of the frontbench shake-up.
Mr Truss, who turns 67 next month, will contest the next election and has indicated his intention to remain as Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister.
Mr Abbott and, in particular, his chief-of-staff Peta Credlin, were understood to have expressed concerns about Mr Joyce’s ascendancy to the top job. It is understood those who would like to see Mr Truss move on remain a minority.
The Nationals could win another parliamentary secretary position in the reshuffle, with those wanting Mr Truss to stay on pushing for a new role to lighten his load.
Defence Minister Kevin Andrews, expected to be dumped, made an impassioned pleato hang on to his job.
Treasurer Joe Hockey, who will lose his job to Scott Morrison, sought to salvage his legacy by declaring the Government was spending nearly $3 billion less than forecast.
Assistant Minister for Social Services Mitch Fifield, a key player in Mr Turnbull’s successful leadership challenge, could also join Cabinet.