Barnaby Joyce has announced he will not be running as the MP for New England in the next election after his relationship with The Nationals ‘irreparably broke down’.
It comes after rumours the former Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals MP was reportedly weighing up a move to One Nation, joining forces with Pauline Hanson in a political bombshell that has sent shockwaves through Canberra.
‘Unfortunately, over the weekend, whilst I was in Central Queensland helping the LNP at their FDC meeting, the story of me leaving broke,’ he wrote in a statement.
‘Quite obviously, as I am currently on the road for The Nationals, it was incongruous to what I was actually doing so not from me nor anyone associated with me.
‘In regards to my political career I would have preferred more time to collect my thoughts and if required make a later announcement as required but this opportunity has been removed, so now I must come to a decision.
‘I will be brief. My relationship with the leadership of the Nationals in Canberra has unfortunately, like a sadness in some marriages, irreparably broken down.’
Joyce said he felt like he was turning into a ‘discordant note’ due to his seat in the far corner of the Coalition in the chamber and the ‘atmospherics’ in the party room.
‘More importantly our position in continuing to support Net Zero with the massive schism and hurt to my electorate, to small businesses, to the environment, to the poor, to the defence of Australia and creating hate between lifelong friends in my community makes continuing in the Nationals’ Party Room in Canberra under this policy untenable,’ he continued.
Barnaby Joyce (pictured) has announced he will not be running as the MP for New England in the next election after his relationship with The Nationals ‘irreparably broke down’
Barnaby Joyce is pictured with his wife Vikki Campion at the 2023 Midwinter Ball
Nationals leader David Littleproud is pictured
‘I will not be standing for New England again but will complete my term as promised at the last election. I will leave with the greatest of love for all and money in the electorate bank account. I am free to now consider all options as to what I do next.
‘I hope that the members understand the unfortunate position I am in and the obvious action after a period of consideration I must take.
‘I wished I had been given more time to consider this and don’t know the motives of those who put the story out there.
‘I am so desperately sorry as to the hurt this may cause and close with the deepest of affection for you all.’
The shock statement comes after Hanson did not deny ongoing discussions with Joyce about joining her party when asked by the media on Friday afternoon.
‘If Barnaby wants to come to One Nation, I’d be happy to have him,’ she said.
Earlier this year, Hanson revealed she had already invited Joyce to join her party, sharing the story in a video posted to social media.
‘Some of his colleagues wanted him gone out of parliament,’ she said.
The shock statement comes after Pauline Hanson (pictured) did not deny ongoing discussions with Joyce about joining One Nation when asked by the media on Friday afternoon
‘I thought: no, I like Barnaby. I like what he stands for. We’re on the same page, we think alike, and we say it the way we see it. So I asked Barnaby.
‘Guess what? He comes back and said, “Thanks, Pauline, but no thank you”. So he’s remained loyal to the Nationals.’
National Party insiders have told Daily Mail they were blindsided by the reports, with some dismissing the claim as a rumour.
Joyce has been a vocal critic of the Net Zero policy, recently introducing a private member’s bill to scrap the Australia’s commitment to lower emissions by 2050.
‘What Net Zero has become is about trying to achieve the impossible, rather than doing what’s sensible,’ Joyce said.
