Barnaby Joyce Bids Farewell: Stepping Down from Nationals and Leaving Politics Behind

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Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has quit the party, citing fractured relationships with its leadership.

The high-profile New England MP will not stand for his seat at the next election but does plan to see out the rest of the term, though.

“My relationship with the leadership of the Nationals in Canberra has unfortunately, like a sadness in some marriages, irreparably broken down,” the former deputy prime minister wrote in a letter to branch members.

Reports the firebrand MP plans to defect to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation were not confirmed in the statement but his options have been kept open.

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

In the midst of escalating tensions within the Coalition, particularly over climate change policies, the longstanding member voiced his discontent. “Our stance on supporting net zero emissions has caused a significant divide,” he said, highlighting the adverse impact on his constituents, small businesses, and the environment. He expressed concern over the policy’s effects on Australia’s defense and lamented the animosity it stirred among lifelong friends in his community. Ultimately, he declared that remaining in the Nationals’ Party Room under such circumstances was no longer viable for him.

Adding to his grievances, he criticized the Nationals’ leadership for their decision during the last federal election, which effectively barred him from campaigning beyond his own electorate. This move, he suggested, curtailed his ability to connect with and support the wider community, further straining his relationship with party leadership.

Joyce was demoted from the party’s frontbench by current leader David Littleproud earlier this year.

“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’

National Party Senate leader Bridget McKenzie said Joyce’s announcement was “a sad day both for me and for our great party”.

“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.

Barnaby Joyce and Bridget McKenzie are captured in a moment of shared laughter, looking happily at each other.

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.

“Throughout it all, I have found Barnaby a man of faith, of passions, and I regard him as a leader with a deep and abiding love and patriotism for our country.”