“I am now at liberty to explore all potential paths for my future endeavors,” he remarked, signaling a shift in his political journey.

“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.”

The move by Nationals leadership to instruct Joyce not to campaign outside his electorate during the last federal election was also criticised by the veteran MP.

‘Friend, fellow warrior and courageous conservative’

“I consider Barnaby a friend, a fellow warrior and a courageous conservative in the federal parliament as a member of The Nationals,” she said in a social media post.

Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie said Barnaby Joyce leading the party in both houses and serving as deputy prime minister was “no small achievement”. Source: Facebook / Senator Bridget McKenzie

“We have fought many battles together and have had our own fierce policy debates.