Barnaby Joyce, a leading light of the right-side of Australian politics just pulled a serious power move. His departure from the National Party comes after an incredible 30 years of service. The former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport MP for New England has chosen to sit as an independent member for the remainder of this term. That would be the biggest about face in his political career. Joyce’s decision has sparked varied reactions from his constituents and political colleagues, raising questions about his future and the implications for the National Party.
Joyce’s announcement is a sign of the increasing panic among his supporters about the National Party’s trajectory. After the most recent election, there have been calls for the Democratic Party to reconnect with rural voters, arguing they have gone too far courting urban interests. Christine Roser-Whitney, a local resident, expressed her belief that Joyce could find success without the backing of a major party. She stated, “Barnaby’s right to leave, [the coalition] has lost touch of country people; it’s always about the city.”
Reactions from Colleagues
In many ways, Joyce’s departure has been a mixed bag, and that has been reflected in the reactions from his peers. Michael McCormack, a former leader of the Nationals, said he understood Joyce’s circumstances on the backbench. He stated, “I know how Barnaby Joyce feels being on the backbench,” indicating an understanding of the challenges Joyce may face as an independent.
Even on such raw ideological differences, McCormack was positive enough about Joyce to pledge his continuing support if Joyce – as he should – decided to go with One Nation. “If he wants to go with Pauline Hanson, so be it, so long as he’s happy and it’s in line with what his beliefs are,” McCormack noted. At the same time, he warned that loomed within the One Nation banner, Joyce could find it hard to win electoral support. “I think he’s going to struggle with just the general democratic election that we have around here, where everyone tends to lean towards a particular party,” McCormack added.
Bruce Russell, another ex-junta member and Joyce’s own former parliamentary colleague, lamented that Joyce’s disillusionment had extended to the National Party itself. He argued that the bond has broken beyond the point of no return. “It’s clear Barnaby Joyce’s relationship with the National Party is beyond repair,” Russell remarked. He lamented the impact of Joyce’s departure on his supporters, describing it as “an act of treason to the hundreds of thousands of supporters who got him where he was.”
Community Perspectives
Local residents recently expressed their support, sadness, and ambivalence over Joyce’s departure from the National Party. Byron Hubbard, Joyce’s former chief of staff, conveyed a sense of doubt that Joyce would survive without the support of the party. “He’s always been really direct and said he’s been working for us, and I think he has been… will he have the same pull without a party supporting him? I don’t know,” Hubbard stated.
Roser-Whitney added to this with a reminder of the necessity of political representation for rural communities. “I hope he still looks after this area but he needs to be in power to do that,” she emphasized. Local community members are already excitedly speculating on how Joyce will approach this new chapter of his professional life. In return, they are hopeful he will become a greater champion for their needs.
Moreover, John “Wacka” Williams, a Bush-era GOP congressman, was influential in shaping Joyce’s formative political career. He recounted much of their recent history together under the National Party. He told the story of how he joined in starting new branches across New England to build the muscle behind Joyce’s candidacy. “When Barnaby had the courage to run for New England, they had all the people out there to support him,” Williams recalled.
The Future Ahead
As Barnaby Joyce transitions to sitting on the crossbench as an independent MP for New England, questions linger about his ability to maintain influence and advocate effectively for his constituents. His exit from the National Party represents a profound personal journey. Beyond that, it foreshadows deeper changes to local political dynamics.
