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New England by-election turns dirty: Barnaby Joyce claims he has received death threats, stalkers

BARNABY Joyce claims he is being stalked as the New England by-election turns increasingly dirty.

Barnaby Joyce claims he is being stalked as the New England by-election turns increasingly dirty. Picture: AAP
Barnaby Joyce claims he is being stalked as the New England by-election turns increasingly dirty. Picture: AAP

BARNABY Joyce claims he is being stalked as the New England by-election turns increasingly dirty.

The former Deputy Prime Minister has spoken out about receiving death threats and being pursued on the campaign trail by an individual who has questioned him about family matters.

Mr Joyce did not deny a clash with the man in a New England pub on Monday night while speaking to local newspaper The Northern Daily Leader.

The publication reports Mr Joyce flicked the man’s hat off his head when the exchange at the Graman Hotel got heated.

“We had a discussion but I mean, I’m not going to go into it because there’s a whole lot of issues behind that individual,” Mr Joyce told Fairfax Media.

“He’s been basically pursuing me, and not just there.”

The New England campaign had turned increasingly dirty ahead of Saturday’s by-election, he said.

“We’ve had death threats and now we’ve got stalkers,” Mr Joyce told the paper.

“The campaign is becoming dirty and people are sending people around to stalk you.

“That’s disappointing, you know.

“I’ll be frank, they’re not coming from the Labor Party, they’re coming from other people.”

Mr Joyce reportedly faced another protester in Glen Innes on Monday morning.

His office has reportedly referred the man to the Australian Federal Police.

Earlier this month, Mr Joyce was sent a bullet along with a threatening note.

The note was mailed to his former electorate office in Tamworth and contained a message about a loan the federal government wants to grant to Adani.

Mr Joyce is fighting to be re-elected after the High Court last month ruled he was ineligible to sit in Parliament for holding New Zealand citizenship.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/new-england-byelection-turns-dirty-barnaby-joyce-claims-he-has-received-death-threats-stalkers/news-story/cdbc0fc170412b2ff297c5ee803f4ea7