His party compatriot Barnaby Joyce, member for New England and Deputy PM, did the same thing last week and upped the political ante. To that end, he even introduced a private member’s bill that would repeal all current climate laws. This bill now languishes in parliament. If this plan goes to a vote it will likely cause even deeper splits in the Coalition over its climate change policy. Joyce’s actions sadly continue a trend since his forced move to the backbench following the conservative leadership contest in May. In that contest he supported Matthew Canavan over fellow Queenslander David Littleproud.
Joyce has already announced that he will not contest his seat at the next federal election. He points to an irretractable rupture in his relationship with Littleproud as his overriding motivation for quitting. Joyce might be out of the electoral contest, but he hasn’t stopped casting a stone’s throw at his betters. He calls on the Coalition to abandon its target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, a target he originally advocated for under his leadership.
Calls for Joyce to Stay
In light of Joyce’s recent announcements, David Littleproud has expressed a strong desire for him to remain within the Nationals until his retirement. Littleproud want Joyce to provide valuable advice to the party in his last months in parliament.
“We want him to stay in the National Party, we think he has a contribution to make between now and when he retires,” – David Littleproud.
Littleproud pointed out the leadership necessary to make big calls on contentious policies including net zero emissions. He suggested that jumping ship from the Nationals to One Nation would shift the focus away from addressing more important challenges. Rather, it would drag them into what he termed a “protest party.”
Rumors of Defection
There had been much speculation about a potential Joyce to One Nation defection. Pauline Hanson, leader of One Nation, confirmed that she had previously engaged in discussions about Joyce potentially joining her party. Such a move would represent a significant shift in Joyce’s political alignment and could have lasting implications for the Coalition.
Australian Senator Jonno Duniam joined the fray. He asked Joyce to pause and consider the historical significance of his political journey and his beginnings within the Nationals. He cautioned against abandoning the party.
“I certainly hope that in reflecting on his time in parliament, which is something that only became possible as has been pointed out because of his support from the National Party organisation that he doesn’t walk away from that,” – Senator Jonno Duniam.
Internal Party Dynamics
The internal dynamics of the Nationals are getting more delicate by the day as the battle for climate policy vs. party loyalty escalates. Barnaby Joyce is still very much laying the groundwork for a comeback. His draft legislation and potential rebellion could dramatically alter the Coalition’s strategy on key issues, for the better.
Liberal senator Jonno Duniam questioned whether Joyce had even been serious in his plans. In 2018 he proposed that if Joyce did leave for One Nation, he should resign caucus first as a Nationals MP. This emerging party consensus reflects the rampant disillusionment among Democratic lawmakers over their party’s long-term course and ability to stay unified.
