Barnaby Joyce dismisses Melbourne in campaign for coal plant

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has dismissed Melbourne in his campaign for a new coal-fired powered station, as Victorian Liberal MPs fear a wipe-out in the state.

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has dismissed Melbourne in his campaign for a new coal-fired powered station, as Victorian Liberal MPs fear a wipe-out in the state.

Nationals leader Michael McCormack is facing a revolt from a group of Nationals MPs, including Mr Joyce, who are demanding the Morrison Government invest in a new coal plant in Queensland.

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It comes as Newspoll showed the Coalition had lost popular support for the first time this year and suffered a hit in the two-party preferred vote to trail Labor 46-54 per cent.

Mr Joyce yesterday refused to rule out running against Mr McCormack for the Nationals leadership in the event of a spill.

Barnaby Joyce has refused to rule out running against Michael McCormack. Picture: Kym Smith

Coalition strategists have told the Herald Sun the pro-coal push from Queensland MPs had proved “toxic” within focus groups and internal polling in Victoria.

“Every time one of them stands up and bangs on about building a new coal-fired power station, our vote sinks further across the state,” one said.

Another said the impact of Mr Joyce’s affair scandal last year had not only hurt the party with women voters. “He’s seen as a comical figure and if he returned, it would be disastrous   for   us electorally.”

Yesterday, Mr Joyce did not rule out running against Mr McCormack for leader if a spill was brought on by other MPs.

He also said his party should be focusing on areas in regional Queensland and not Melbourne when pushing for a government-subsidised power station.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack launched a thinly veiled slight against Barnaby Joyce this week. Picture: AAP Image/Peter Rae

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“I support a coal-fired power station in central Queensland because the ­people of central Queensland have a vastly different view of the world to the people of Melbourne,” Mr Joyce told The Australian.

Mr Joyce was forced to stand down as Nationals leader last year after it emerged he had an affair with his former staffer, Vikki Campion.

Mr McCormack launched a thinly veiled slight against Mr Joyce yesterday, saying he understood “when you have a marriage, it’s a two-way ­relationship”.

“I understand that, I understand what it takes to have a successful marriage,” Mr McCormack said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison slapped down Mr Joyce’s power station call and said Mr McCormack would not be rolled as Nationals leader.

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