Miranda Live: Barnaby Joyce says no executive power as drought envoy is ‘frustrating’

HE has been tasked by the Prime Minister with addressing Australia’s devastating drought as a special envoy, but Barnaby Joyce says it is frustrating not to have executive power to implement ideas.

BARNABY Joyce is weeks into his new role as special envoy for drought assistance, but the Nationals backbencher has lamented the position’s lack of real power.

BARNABY JOYCE ON MIRANDA LIVE:

Barnaby Joyce flew into Warracknabeal, Victoria to meet and speak with drought effected farmers from the region. Picture: ANDY ROGERS

The role was created by Prime Minister Scott Morrison soon after he was voted in as Liberal leader and widely seen as an olive branch to Mr Joyce.

The ex-deputy prime minister has revealed several plans to tackle the big dry which include using Commonwealth water, currently used for environment assets, to grow fodder, but told Miranda Live he doesn’t have the capacity to sign off on the idea.

MORE MIRANDA DEVINE:

FOLEY: ‘ASTONISHING’ LOSS FOR THE LIBS

LABOR SHOULD BE FEARFUL OF SCOMO

Scott Morrison and David Littleproud in Quilpie, south west Queensland. Picture: AAP Image/Fairfax Media Pool

“At this point in time, as an envoy, I don’t have the direct executive power, which is the capacity to say, ‘I decree that you will do this and off people go and do it’,” Mr Joyce said.

“Yes, I have two staff, you do the best with what you’ve got,” he said when asked by host Miranda Devine if that was frustrating.

It remains unclear if Mr Joyce reports to Mr Morrison or Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, but the backbencher said he is hoping to have a formal discussion with Mr Morrison on Wednesday.

“I’ll walk out the door, turn left, go down the corridor, turn right and then walk downstairs to the Prime Minister’s office and tell him direct.”

SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

► CHAPTER ONE: Inside the squad that beat Sydney’s gangs

► CHAPTER TWO: The real-life police fight club

► CHAPTER THREE: The day bikies went too far

► CHAPTER FOUR: Bikie gangs: Warlords of the underworld

Download The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph app for your smartphone or tablet to get the full story.

APPLE: DOWNLOAD THE APP FOR iOS

GOOGLE PLAY: DOWNLOAD THE APP FOR ANDROID

The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph app for your smartphone and tablet is a crackerjack way to read the stories that matter most to you

Get alerts about the latest breaking news on your locked smartphone screen and then tap to go straight to the article

WHAT YOU GET WITH OUR APP

► Live and latest news — Get the news as it breaks 24-hours a day, 7 days a week

► My News — Your own personal news feed. Tailor your news to get straight to the topics that matter to you

► Today’s Paper — Read the paper anytime, anywhere with the digital replica of the paper, as its printed

► Notifications — Be the first to know when big stories break with instant news alerts straight to the locked screen on your smartphone and tablet

► Live Sport Scores — Stay on the ball with NRL and AFL live sport scores and expect analysis

► Share — Join the conversation and share your favourite stories via Facebook, Twitter or email

► Daily puzzles — With new crosswords and Sudoku puzzles every day, there’s always something to keep your mind active

► Subscribe — Through the app (via iTunes) to start your 30-day FREE trial; then your subscription will automatically renew to $29.99 per month.

FIND OUT MORE HERE ►

Be alerted to breaking news as it happens or simply tap “Today’s paper” to read the newspaper as it was printed

Choose the news sections you want to read with “My topics” or get access to all sections with the interactive menu bar

Read the digital replica of the newspaper as it was printed that day

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook News // Facebook Sport // Facebook SuperCoach NRL // Facebook Sydney Confidential // Facebook Live Streaming // Twitter News // Twitter Sport // Twitter SuperCoach NRL // Twitter Sydney Confidential // Instagram Daily Telegraph