Abbott hits out at “selfish” Joyce over “dummy spit” resignation
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has described Barnaby Joyce’s resignation from the National Party as “a little selfish” and “a dummy spit”.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has hit out at Barnaby Joyce’s decision to resign from the Nationals and consider a defection to One Nation, branding Mr Joyce’s move as “a little selfish” and “a dummy spit”.
Speaking on the Institute of Public Affairs’ Australia’s Future Podcast, released on Friday afternoon, Mr Abbott said the move was “a little bit beneath Barnaby”.
“I think he should be bigger than this”, Mr Abbott said.
“The National Party put him into parliament. The National Party made him the Deputy Prime Minister. Everything that he has been able to achieve in public life has been through and with the National Party.”
“And I think it’s a little selfish to suddenly say ‘well, the National Party is not giving me the recognition I think I deserve. Therefore, I’m going to have a dummy spit and go off to One Nation, which might make me the next leader’. So I just think it’s a pity.”
“The other point I make is that, in the end, One Nation is a party of protest. Perhaps the most constructive of the various parties of protest, but it is in the end a party of protest. And what we need in this country is better parties of government.”
Yesterday, after weeks of speculation, Mr Joyce officially quit the National Party, complaining about a lack of communication from party leader David Littleproud after he first flagged he was contemplating a move to One Nation.
“Apart from a 90-second phone conversation with the leader, I’ve had no communication with either the leader of the National Party or the deputy leader of the National Party to try and resolve this, and that’s disappointing”, Mr Joyce told parliament.
Mr Joyce will now sit on the crossbench as an independent, ahead of a possible NSW Senate run for One Nation in three years’ time.
Originally published as Abbott hits out at “selfish” Joyce over “dummy spit” resignation
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