Barnaby Joyce joins One Nation, will run for the Senate
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The news: Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has defected to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, ending months of speculation about his future.
The context: Joyce formally quit the Nationals in the last sitting week of the year, having sat outside the partyroom since October after his relationship with leader David Littleproud broke down.
While insisting he did not want his future to become a “circus” at that time, Joyce stoked long-running speculation about joining Hanson by dining with the One Nation leader in parliament.
Hanson confirmed Joyce’s defection in a statement on Monday, saying he would sit as One Nation’s only lower house MP until the next federal election. He will then run at the top of the party’s ticket in the Senate, where Joyce has suggested he would wield more influence.
“I am pleased he’s chosen One Nation, and I welcome his experience, his advice and his determination to get a fair go for farmers and regional Australia,” Hanson’s statement said.
Joyce told Tamworth local radio that he had been considering the move “over a long period of time”.
“Pauline and I have known each other for a long period of time. Pauline made an offer to me to come to One Nation, and I have taken that up,” he said.
Joyce has offered conflicting reasons for his departure from the Nationals, which he led during two separate stints.
He initially claimed he would sit outside the Nationals party room to speak freely against net zero, though Nationals MPs were criticising the target.
When the Nationals abandoned the target, along with the Liberals, Joyce then argued his deteriorated relationship with Littleproud made his position untenable.
What they said: “Mr Joyce strengthens One Nation’s position in parliament just as many Australians are strengthening our position in the polls,” Hanson said in a statement.
“I look forward to working with Mr Joyce and One Nation’s Senate team as we continue to expose and oppose the Albanese Labor government’s agenda.”
The sources: Pauline Hanson statement, Barnaby Joyce 88.9 Tamworth radio interview
