Nationals leader blasts Joyce’s One Nation move as 'disappointing'
Nationals leader David Littleproud did not hold back in expressing his disappointment on Barnaby Joyce’s decision to jump ship to One Nation, saying it was always about his leadership ambitions.
Nationals leader David Littleproud has called out of former party colleague Barnaby Joyce over his decision to leave the Coalition and join One Nation.
“One Nation is a party of protest, not a party of government,” he said in a press release.
“Our regional representatives need to be able to get things done in government and that can only happen as part of a Coalition.
“Barnaby’s decision breaks the contract he made with the people of New England at the 2025 federal election.
“It is disappointing for the people of New England and disappointing for the loyal National Party members who worked day and night volunteering to support him.”
“The Nationals supported Barnaby through many difficult times, including during his darkest moments.”
Mr Joyce’s decision comes at the end of two months of speculation over his future in federal politics.
In October Mr Joyce announced he would not contest his New England seat at the next election, citing a relationship with Mr Littleproud that had “irreparably broken down”.
He resigned from the National Party in late November.
In a bizarre turn of events, Senator Pauline Hanson’s courtship of Mr Joyce included cooking him wagyu steak on a sandwich press in her parliamentary office.
On Monday he announced he would join One Nation, running on its NSW senate ticket.
Mr Littleproud said Mr Joyce had turned his back on the Nationals and his electorate.
“I have never had a personal issue or problem with Barnaby Joyce,” he said.
“This issue is about Barnaby wanting to be the leader of a party.”
Groom MP Garth Hamilton said he was also disappointed to see Mr Joyce walk away from the Coalition.
“But my focus, and the focus of our party, has to stay on the people we represent,” he said.
“Our communities count on us for stability and leadership – doing the hard work to develop practical policy, not turning the conversation back onto ourselves.”
Mr Joyce’s political career started when he was elected to the Senate in 2004 with his office based in St George, about 300km west of Toowoomba.
As a senator he crossed the floor 19 times to vote against the Coalition and had repeated conflicts with Liberal colleagues over climate change.
Mr Joyce famously fell out with Malcolm Turnbull when he, as Opposition leader, signalled he would support the Rudd government’s emission trading scheme.
It was Mr Joyce who helped organise a rebellion within the Coalition that would see Mr Turnbull usurped by Tony Abbott.
Mr Joyce was twice elected leader of the Nationals, resigning the first time after allegations he sexually harassed a West Australian woman, and second time after he was challenged by Mr Littleproud following the Coalition’s 2022 electoral defeat.
More Coverage
Originally published as Nationals leader blasts Joyce’s One Nation move as 'disappointing'
