Barnaby Joyce quits the Nationals amid One Nation defection talk
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The news: Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has quit the party, though stopped short of confirming a move to One Nation.
The context: Joyce’s long-term future in the party has been in doubt for weeks after confirmation he had discussed a defection with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.
In a 90-second statement to the House of Representatives on Thursday, Joyce confirmed he will leave the junior Coalition partner, saying he would “continue the fight” for regional Australians.
Joyce was removed from the frontbench after the May election, a decision Nationals leader David Littleproud argued was made to enable generational change. He also claimed former Liberal leader Peter Dutton had previously asked him to leave the Coalition.
“When [people are] talking about generational change, it's pretty clear what people want,” Joyce said.
The former leader stopped attending National and party room meetings weeks ago, initially arguing it was to speak freely on scrapping net zero.
When both Coalition parties adopted that position, he focused on his personal differences with Littleproud. This week, Joyce argued he was a “front rower” and wanted a more substantial role.
He stoked further defection chatter by dining with Hanson in Parliament this week.
Joyce resigned as Nationals leader in 2018, after revelations he had an affair with his staffer, and sexual harassment allegations, which he denied.
He returned to the role in 2021 after challenging Michael McCormack, but lost the leadership in the wake of the Coalition’s 2022 election loss.
What they said: “After 30 years with the National Party, I am resigning from the party. That leaves me with a heavy heart, and I apologise for all of the hurt that that will cause,” Joyce said.
The source: Barnaby Joyce speech
