Barnaby Joyce called Scott Morrison a ‘hypocrite and a liar’ in leaked text message

Scott Morrison has reacted swiftly to the revelation that he was called a “hypocrite and a liar” by the man who’s now his deputy PM.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce described Prime Minister Scott Morrison as a “hypocrite and a liar” who could “rearrange the truth to a lie” in leaked text messages sent during the furore over Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation.

The Nationals leader “unreservedly apologised” to the Prime Minister just hours before the story broke on Friday.

News.com.au has obtained a copy of the full text exchange and confirmed the blunt character assessment was sent to a third party to “pass on” to Brittany Higgins in March, 2021.

The messages were sent when Mr Joyce was still a backbencher and before he returned to the leadership.

“He is a hypocrite and a liar from my observations and that is over a long time. I have never trusted him and I dislike how he earnestly rearranges the truth to a lie,” Mr Joyce wrote.

“I and Scott, he is Scott until I recognise his office, don’t get along.”

Barnaby Joyce has apologised after a text message (above) he sent last year describing PM Scott Morrison as a “hypocrite and a liar” was leaked

Mr Morrison said Mr Joyce had offered an apology and he had accepted it.

“He sincerely apologised and I immediately accepted his apology in good faith. I understand Barnaby was in a different headspace last year, both professionally and personally, and so I know he genuinely no longer feels this way,” Mr Morrison said.

“Relationships change over time. Politicians are human beings too. We all have our frailties and none of us are perfect.

“Since coming to the role of Deputy Prime Minister, it is fair to say that we both positively surprised each other. We were never close before this and never pretended to be.

“But in these roles we have really found our rhythm, as we have concluded AUKUS, settled our climate change policy and continued to fight the pandemic.”

Mr Joyce admitted what he said in the message was wrong even though he believed it was said in private.

“In the last 24 hours I have become aware that a screenshot of a text message has been circulating among third parties that contains comments I made in March 2021 when I was a backbencher,” he said.

“I have unreservedly apologised to the Prime Minister for my comments.”

He admitted it was “common knowledge that in the past the Prime Minister and I had not always seen eye-to-eye”.

“But I have worked extremely closely with the Prime Minister over the last seven months since I returned to the role of Deputy Prime Minister; and the Prime Minister is a person of high integrity and honesty in what is possibly the most difficult job in the nation.”

Barnaby Joyce said it was “common knowledge that in the past the Prime Minister and I had not always seen eye-to-eye” after the text leaked. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Earlier this week, Mr Joyce demanded that the serving cabinet minister alleged to have called Scott Morrison “a complete psycho” in text messages revealed earlier this week “out themselves”.

“I would suggest that if you know anything about this don’t wait to be outed, out yourself,” Mr Joyce said.

“And give an explanation.

“Maybe it was a bad day in the office, I don’t know. That’s a better way to do it.”

Channel 10 political editor Peter van Onselen, who broke the story of the original “psycho” texts revealed there is a “deal done” that means he won’t reveal the identity of the alleged minister behind the leaked texts.

The journalist who confronted the Prime Minister with the leaked text messages between NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and an unnamed Minister has remained coy until now on whether the MP was a federal or state Minister.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has denied he was the source of the leak and van Onselen has pointed the finger at a federal frontbencher.

”It’s as simple as this. The Minister is the source. I didn’t get these from a third party. I’ve got the screenshots. As a consequence, the deal done is that I wouldn’t out the Minister,’’ he said.

Mr Joyce described Prime Minister Scott Morrison as a “hypocrite and a liar” who could “rearrange the truth to a lie” in leaked text messages. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Ms Berejiklian issued a statement this week insisting she “did not recall” sending the messages calling the Prime Minister “a horrible person” or receiving the messages calling him a complete psycho.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean – a close political ally of Ms Berejiklian – was forced to deny that he leaked the messages to van Onselen on Sydney radio.

”Was it you?’ 2GB host Ben Fordham asked Mr Kean on Wednesday morning.

”I played no part in the ambush on the Prime Minister. It was not me,’ he responded.

When asked again if he was the source of the messages or a middle man to the leak, he said: “I don’t believe so.”

Van Onselen was also at pains to make sure it was clear the leaker was a “serving” cabinet minister, to avoid any suggestion the source was “his friend” Christian Porter.