Barnaby Joyce regains Nats leadership in spill shock

Reappointed Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce says he wants to give the party its best chance of winning in regions such as central Queensland.

Returned Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce says he will bring processes which will give the party the best chance of winning in places like central Queensland.

He defeated former leader Michael McCormack in a close leadership challenge on Monday morning.

It follows years of growing dissatisfaction at Mr McCormack’s leadership and agitation from Mr Joyce’s supporters.

The latest flashpoint has been Prime Minister Scott Morrison moving towards net-zero emissions “preferably” by 2050.

Mr Joyce was coy on what his position on net zero emissions would be, saying he would consult his colleagues but it would be about the best interest of the Australian economy, not the “German or Danish ones”.

“If that’s the view of the Nationals party room, that’s the view that I’ll support,” Mr Joyce said.

He said he was not expected the outcome of the spill saying, “if I thought it was something I expected to happen I would have brought my hat”.

Barnaby Joyce addresses the media after the vote. Picture: Martin Ollman/NCA NewsWire

Mr Joyce said he hoped he had learned from his three years on the back bench.

“I will try, always, to be a better person. I acknowledge my faults,” he said.

“I don’t walk away from making sure that I can be a better person and do a better job.

“I’m reminded of that by the people that I love most, my four daughters and my two sons and (partner) Vikki (Campion).”

He said he had spoken with Mr Morrison, but there would be more discussions coming up as they settled a new Coalition agreement.

The Coalition agreement is a contract between the leaders of the National and Liberal parties on working together in government.

Mr Joyce walked into the National party room on his own, while Mr McCormack was accompanied by ally Mark Coulton.

Nationals whip Damian Drum confirmed the result of the spill following an hour-long party room meeting.

“Barnaby Joyce has been elected leader of the National Party at a federal level,” he said.

“He has to go through the process now of being sworn in, all the conversations and talk to the PM and get in with the job.”

Mr Drum said the Nationals were the “most democratic party in the country” after the latest spill.

Leaving the party room, ousted leader Mr McCormack simply said, “It’s called democracy.”

The outgoing Deputy Prime Minister said he lost his job, not because his colleagues dissatisfied but because Barnaby Joyce “wanted his job back”.

Fronting the media with his wife Catherine, Mr McCormack said he respected the outcome of the spill and wished Mr Joyce well.

But he said Australians questioning why there has been yet another spill in Parliament would have to ask those who called it.

“I don’t think the party was actually dissatisfied with my performance, someone wanted their job back and that drove them for three years,” Mr McCormack said.

He said it was a privilege to serve as Deputy Prime Minister for the past three years.

“I’m really pleased that I leave the leadership of the National party, and the Deputy Prime Ministership, with the love of my wife Catherine and the respect of our three children,” he said.

He would not commit to contesting the next election, saying he would consider his options, but will remain in Parliament for now.

Mr McCormack said he had spoken to Prime Minister Scott Morrison who thanked him for his service.

Mr Morrison, who remains in quarantine at the Lodge after his G7 trip, released a statement saying the Liberal and National party would continue to have a strong partnership, and thanking Mr McCormack.

“Our focus remains on two outcomes – protecting lives and protecting livelihoods, as we continue to bolster our vaccine roll out and build on the economic recovery that has led to the creation of almost one million jobs since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“Barnaby and I have a shared passion for ensuring our regions and rural communities thrive.”

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says his detractors are destabilising to take his job. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese described the Nationals leadership spill as a circus.

“In the end, the fact is if you want to end this circus, it’s time to end this government,” he said.

“The last time there was a spill it was in the middle of the bushfire crisis. This time it’s in the middle of a pandemic.”

Mr Albanese said Labor remained committed to net-zero emissions by 2050 and would not be willing to work with the Government to fund a coal-fired power station, if that enters the agenda with Mr Joyce as Deputy Prime Minister.

He urged Mr Joyce to stick by his position on the Biloela family, after just last week he indicated the Tamil asylum seekers would have been treated differently if the children were named “Sarah and Jane”.

Only the position of leader of the National Party has changed so far.

It is understood David Littleproud remains deputy leader for now, with Mr Drum indicating other positions in the party will be dealt with in due course.

Mr Joyce will hold a press conference later this afternoon.

He will need to negotiate a new Coalition agreement with Prime Minister Scott Morrison before becoming Deputy Prime Minister.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud was seen as another potential leadership contender. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

While there has been discontent in the party over Mr McCormack’s leadership for years, it began boiling over last week after he struggled to perform while acting Prime Minister, with Scott Morrison away for the G7.

As Mr Morrison was in Europe talking about Australia’s ambition to reach net-zero emissions as soon as possible and “preferably” by 2050, Nationals-aligned Cabinet Minister Keith Pitt fired a warning shot saying it was “not the government’s policy” and that agreement had “neither been sought nor reached”.

Mr McCormack, speaking from Rockhampton, told The Courier-Mail he was not counting the numbers but confirmed he would recontest the leadership on Monday if a spill was called.

“People aren’t dissatisfied with what I’m doing as Deputy Prime Minister, they want my job. There’s a big difference there,” Mr McCormack said.

“I don’t think anyone could ever question my work ethic.”

He said the Liberal and National parties remained “as one” on the issue of net-zero emissions.

“We have said it’s technology, not taxes,” he said.

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry said she hoped it was a normal party room meeting tomorrow with no spill called.

“People don’t want to see us talking about ourselves and getting rid of Deputy Prime Ministers in the middle of a pandemic,” she said.

One source said the only majority in the party room was those that thought Mr McCormack “was hopeless”, but that there remained “no clear alternative”.

Mr Littleproud’s name frequently comes up in leadership discussions as an alternative to Mr Joyce, who has a faction in the party that strongly opposes him.

There have been suggestions it has been supporters of Mr Littleproud, but not the Minister himself, who have been pushing the leadership talk.

The leadership debate will also make for an interesting touch football match on Wednesday, with Mr Joyce, Senator Matt Canavan, Mr Pitt and Mr Littleproud all potentially taking the field for Queensland at the annual parliamentary “State of Origin” game.