Barnaby Joyce has reacted against Western Australian Prime Minister Mark McGowan in another war of words after suggesting it would be beneficial for the Albanian government if the New England member won the Nationals leadership on Monday.
Barnaby Joyce responded to Western Australian Prime Minister Mark McGowan, who suggested that it would be “great” for the Albanian government to retain its role as leader of the nationals.
McGowan, who last week called the likely next federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton “extremist” and “not so smart,” downplayed his remarks and extended the blow to Mr. Joyce.
“It depends on the Liberal Party who they choose, but I don’t think they will recognize the election result if they select Mr Dutton,” he said over the weekend, ahead of the leadership vote on Monday.
“If they want to select Mr. Dutton, I suspect it’s good for the government. And if they want to select Mr. Joyce (as leader of the Nationals), I suspect that’s great for the government.”
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Joyce mocked the feelings in her appearance on Seven’s Sunrise with Labor’s Tanya Plibersek on Monday, where her dates were reproduced.
“I love the way I put myself under her skin,” she replied.
“Premier McGowan of Newcastle, I can tell you that the ball goes up and the ball goes down and don’t get too smart, mate.
“Be careful, be very careful.”
The New England member was shy when asked if he had the numbers of ministers to be able to maintain his position as leader of the nationals.
“I’m going to let the party hall decide on that, it’s incredibly important, it’s a democracy,” Joyce said.
“Obviously I keep my record that we won all the seats we had before the election.
“We had three members retiring and we still won those seats, we came a distance of two more seats that we should be able to occupy in the next election.”
He was then asked to make statements by Senator Sarah Hanson Young in which he said that a liberal and national leadership under Mr. Dutton and Mr. Joyce would not solve the problem of women voters, who massively distanced themselves from the party this election.
Joyce suggested it was a “thorn that has been thrown around” and reiterated the results of the federal election where nationals were able to retain all their seats.
“When I returned to leadership, there were no women in the cabinet and I made sure there were. I will continue to build on that,” she promised.
“It simply came to our notice then. Obviously, in the regions on the ground, we took our seats, that’s what we want, right?
“People are suggesting the seats of the Nationals, what should we sacrifice to make others happy? I don’t know what they will be.”
National MPs have suggested it will be reduced to a close showdown between Joyce and David Littleproud, who is the party’s current vice-president.
Darren Chester will also take part in the competition on Monday, but will probably be reduced to Mr. Joyce and Mr. Littleproud, some party members have hinted.
One MP told the publication that “there is not much” and that it is likely to be “reduced to the new participants in the room” about who will become the leader.
Mallee MP Anne Webster, who argued that the party needs to improve its message on women and climate change, is running for Nationals deputy leader.
Elsewhere, Dutton is expected to be unopposed as the Liberal leader after Scott Morrison left office after the election defeat to Anthony Albanese.
Sussan Ley is likely to become the Deputy Minister of Defense.