Barnaby Joyce: The insightful political judgement of the maverick MP on display
WARNING: CONTAINS LOOSE CANNON
On the 27th of October, The Age and SMH ran an article beginning:
Barnaby Joyce to make decision on One Nation next year
Barnaby Joyce will not return to the Nationals party room or join One Nation this year, with the veteran MP hoping to turn down the temperature over his mooted defection to Pauline Hanson’s party.
In an interview with this masthead Joyce, who remains a National MP but will not contest his seat for the party at the next election, said he would consider his political future over the summer.
In this post, I have taken key excerpts and added likely Barnaby comments, hoping to reflect the sheer brilliance and insightful political judgement of the maverick MP.
The former deputy prime minister argued Nationals leader David Littleproud had isolated him, though he accepted some of the blame for their broken relationship, which was the trigger for his discussions with Hanson about joining her party.
BARNABY:
David doesn’t seem to realise that I am the expert at being Nationals leader – I’ve got the experience. He has not treated me with the respect I deserve. I have said that I accept some of the blame, just to make a big fella of myself. But it was all his fault.
I’m a populist through and through, so of course I talked to Pauline Hanson about joining her party. What’s wrong with that?
*****
At the same time, senior Nationals called for the former party leader to end the damaging speculation about his future and decide quickly whether he would remain with the junior Coalition partner.
BARNABY:
What’s the big hurry? They should understand that I love being the centre of attention, and the longer I let this drag on, the more attention I’ll get. Haven’t they learnt by now that my career has been built on alienating colleagues. How dare they preach to me about party unity. Day after day, I ask myself, “Why should I have to work with morons?”
Party leader David Littleproud said Joyce was welcome back in the party room after he skipped Monday’s meeting where net zero policy was discussed, but former leader Michael McCormack and Nationals federal president Kay Hull issued less conciliatory responses.
“If you’re a member of the Nats and you haven’t resigned from the Nats, then your obligation is to be in the Nats room,” McCormack said.
BARNABY:
After the drubbing the Liberals copped in the election and with the Coalition now a mere shadow of its former self, it’s time for all members of the Opposition to put aside personal differences and come together as one united team and rebuild from the ground up.
The only way to win the next election is by being united in hard-right conservatism and populism. So, it’s my way or the highway, and David can stick his “welcome back” message where the sun don’t shine, unless he wants to see things my way. If I want to behave like a spoilt brat, I bloody well will.
Hull called Joyce’s running media commentary, which included two interviews and multiple TV appearances on Monday morning, “unhelpful”.
“Barnaby has said he will continue to represent his constituency as a National, but he will not sit in the Nationals party room, nor the Coalition party room,” she said.
BARNABY:
My constituents know that Barnaby Joyce’s top priority is the well-being of his New England electorate, and they love me for it. They know I like the media limelight, but I am acting in their best interests, not my own selfish ego. I am Mr Humility personified.
They voted for me as a National and that’s what they are getting - a dedicated, honest party man, right till the end of this term - even if I am spending a lot of time with Pauline.
*****
Joyce has suggested that this current term of parliament will be his last representing the seat of New England, but has left the door open to a return to the Senate. Earlier on Monday, Joyce was asked if he was trying to “have his cake and eat it too” by not attending party meetings but still sitting with his Nationals colleagues, Joyce said no, pointing to the same precedent as Hull.
BARNABY:
If Kay Hull condones hypocrisy, then I can be a hypocrite. How’s that for a mature, sophisticated response! You see, with the incredible political mind I have, I am being wasted on the backbench in the loser party that I have come to love, and hate as I do now. You have probably noticed my talent for disciplined, consistent and coherent messaging.
And speaking of great political minds, I will wait till next year to announce my defection to Pauline’s One Nation. I mean that I will consider my options over summer and then announce my defection.
NEWS UPDATE …
Barnaby Joyce’s personal GP has issued him with a severe blood pressure alert, stating that he must quit his repeated “spoilt brat attacks”.
“There is only so much the human body can tolerate, and Barnaby is pushing his luck right to the limit.” the doctor said.