Leadership spill canvassed for Nationals as Michael McCormack ‘loses support’
NATIONALS MPs who want a return to Barnaby Joyce are discussing moving a spill motion against Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, as some of his formerly staunch supporters have deserted him.
NSW
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NATIONALS MPs who want a return to Barnaby Joyce are discussing moving a spill motion against Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack as early as next week.
The escalating campaign against his leadership prompted Mr McCormack to last night make a pitch for stability in the party, telling The Daily Telegraph he was delivering for regional voters.
But some of his formerly staunch supporters have deserted him, accusing him of weakness towards the Liberals and failing to cut-through to voters.
But Mr McCormack rejected these accusations and said he was providing strong leadership.
“Regional Australians want secure and stable leadership which listens to their specific needs, understands their unique differences and delivers for them — that’s what The Nationals stand for and that’s what my leadership is providing,” he said.
In an attempt at inclusiveness and unity, Mr McCormack said his predecessor was “playing an important role as drought envoy”.
“I will continue to work with Barnaby and all my colleagues to stick up for regional Australia and for country people,” he said.
Mr Joyce said he was open to a comeback as leader if he were drafted.
“I’ve always said that if anything was offered to me I’d take it. If it came up and if it was offered to me I’d take it but I’m not touting for it,” Mr Joyce told Sky News.
Former close allies of Mr McCormack’s, like Nationals MPs Keith Pitt and Luke Hartsuyker, are said to be dissatisfied with their leader’s performance, according to their colleagues.
Deputy leader Bridget McKenzie and Agriculture Minister David Littleproud are understood to be strongly against any move to topple Mr McCormack.
It is expected Mr Littleproud would make his own bid for the leadership if it became vacant after next year’s federal election.
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Among Nationals, the key criticisms of Mr McCormack are that he has not stood up to the Liberals on policy and is failing to have any cut-through campaigning.
But a group of Nationals MPs are strongly opposed to Mr Joyce returning as leader, arguing he has been severely damaged as a conservative by his personal scandal that rocked the Coalition Government earlier this year.
Other Nationals are opposed to a leadership change and the instability it would cause just months out from an election.
Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester said: “I think Michael McCormack is doing a great job, has secured record funding for infrastructure in this year’s budget and speculation about leadership is complete rubbish.”
Mr Joyce’s supporters have not ruled out a spill next week.
A party room is not scheduled because the Senate is not sitting however the majority of Nationals will be in Canberra for Senate Estimates.
A NSW MP said changing leaders before the Wentworth by-election would be disastrous but would not rule out supporting Mr Joyce if a spill were called.
Another MP criticised Mr McCormack for his decision to “promote your enemies and knife your friends.”
“He should have picked a fight with the liberals to strengthen his position,” he said.
One Nationals source said they doubted Mr Joyce could muster “any more than five votes” to spill the position but could not rule out a “suicide bomber attempt” which was egged on by “a small group of political morons”.
A Queensland Nationals MP said changing leaders would only do the Coalition electoral damage.
“We need stability. We need to prove to voters we can provide a stable government,” the MP said.
“A change between now and the election would do more harm than good.”
Another said: “We just brought this bloke in because Barnaby resigned. Knifing him six or so months later? It’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Others urged colleagues to allow Mr McCormack some “clean air” to grow into the job and said following the “revolving door of leaders” was “political suicide”.
“The nation was disgusted at Barnaby, they were disgusted at the way he through his girlfriend and mother of his child under a bus, disgusted at him taking money to sell his story,” one MP said.
“Imagine how disgusted they’d be at a party of government if we brought him back?
“Why would any woman ever vote Nationals again? And that’s 50 per cent of the vote.”