Nationals MP Michael McCormack says he hopes Barnaby Joyce remains with the party, following this masthead’s revelation at the weekend that Joyce was in advanced talks about defecting to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.
“Well, I messaged Barnaby last night. I said, I honestly hope he remains with the Nationals, whether that’s as a National Party member, or whether that means as an active member, remains to be seen,” McCormack told Sky News this morning.
“I think it’s important that he does remain with the Nationals as part of his legacy as well, he’s done some great things for regional Australia… He stood up loudly and passionately and proudly for the interests of country Australians for many, many years. I’d like to think that that legacy won’t be trashed by him moving away from the party.”
MP for Riverina Michael McCormack and MP for New England Barnaby Joyce in discussion in parliament. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
A breakdown in the relationship between Joyce and Nationals leader David Littleproud was one of the reasons Joyce cited for his decision to step away from the party. Asked about tensions between the two, McCormack said it was important to focus less on individuals, and more on how the party can serve the interests of everyday Australians.
“I appreciate that David’s out there, he’s leading the party. We need to get back to talking about the things that matter to the people who vote for us, and that is cost of living, cost of energy, cost of groceries, cost of petrol. People are hurting right here, and that’s what we should be focused on, not about individuals, not about ourselves,” he said.
This morning, Joyce revealed he had spoken with Hanson on the phone over the weekend, but has refused to answer questions about whether he plans to shift to One Nation.
