Barnaby Joyce briefly faced with the prospect of opposing own party or resigning as Deputy PM

The Nationals’ attempt to blow up its own government’s policy has caused chaos in parliament and pushed new leader Barnaby Joyce into a tricky predicament.

Barnaby Joyce was briefly faced with the prospect of voting against his own party or resigning as Deputy Prime Minister just days after regaining the role during bizarre scenes in parliament.

The Coalition was thrown into chaos on Thursday when Nationals whip Damian Drum revived the Nationals attempt to blow up the government’s Murray-Darling Basin Plan, a day after a similar attempt failed in the Senate.

Mr Drum brought an amendment to the House of Representatives that contradicted the government’s official position, forcing Mr Joyce and fellow frontbencher into a dilemma: vote against their own party, or resign from cabinet.

Cabinet members are bound to support government policy in parliamentary votes.

But in bizarre scenes, a subdued Leader of the House Peter Dutton moved to have the motion ruled out of order, effectively gagging his government colleague.

New Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was briefly faced with the prospect of a choice: vote against his own party or resign from cabinet. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Nationals whip Damian Drum (right), responsible for co-ordinating the party’s vote, brought the Nationals’ attack to the House of Representatives. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Labor, wanting to put a spotlight on the drama in the Coalition, demanded Mr Dutton be overruled on the out-of-order claim.

“We want the opportunity for the House to be able to have the debate,” Labor frontbencher Tony Burke said.

Speaker Tony Smith, who had threatened to eject Mr Joyce for heckling, sided with the government and Labor’s attempts to overturn the ruling were unsuccessful.

But Mr Drum walked away from his attempt once Labor’s support was made clear, effectively silencing the Nationals, accusing the opposition of “grandstanding”.

“The only chance that I have of bringing about water policy change within this parliament, means I have to work with the Liberal Party. At the moment there is a gulf there between our beliefs,” he said.

“We will continue now to work with the Liberal Party to bring them on board for our policies. That is why will have no part in this dissension motion.”

An amused Labor leader Anthony Albanese twisted the knife.

“If (Mr Drum) wants to fight for the right for him not to speak, so be it. That’s the modern Nationals Party,” Mr Albanese quipped.

Labor frontbencher Tony Burke attacked Mr Joyce for throwing the government into chaos within a week of returning.

“One day in the job that he tried to kill the Murray-Darling Basin Plan,” he said, before Mr Dutton also shut down his speech.

Later in question time, Labor frontbencher Terri Butler demanded to know when Mr Pitt, the Water Minister, became aware of the Nationals’ plan to blow up the scheme.

Mr Pitt did not answer the question, instead claiming the Nationals had “always been aware of what is going on when it comes to water”.

Mr Albanese sked whether the Prime Minister would strip the Nationals of the water portfolio in his upcoming cabinet reshuffle, arguing the party had directly contradicted cabinet.

“I do not agree with the leader of opposition’s characterisation of that issue,” the Prime Minister curtly replied.

Just hours before, Mr Morrison insisted Mr Joyce’s return as his deputy would not undermine stability in the Coalition.

“I describe him as a wind in the sails,” he told Today.

“Barnaby and I have sat around cabinet tables for years. We are both passionate about what we want to achieve for this country and the government’s program.”

The Nationals’ position on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which would bar water recovery if it hampered access for irrigators, was agreed during a party room meeting on Monday.

The party then flexed its muscles on Wednesday, blindsiding their Liberal colleagues by bringing amendments to the Senate.

The Liberals joined Labor to shut down their junior coalition partner but five Nationals senators, including former frontbenchers Bridget McKenzie and Matt Canavan, voted for the amendments.

WHY JOYCE BRIEFLY LEFT QUESTION TIME

Mr Joyce was also briefly forced to leave the House of Representatives at the beginning of question time to receive advice on whether he was a close contact of a Covid-19 case, but returned shortly after.

“Shortly before Question Time, I was alerted that I may have been in contact with a person who was a close contact of a case,” he informed the House.

“I immediately sought further information and advice from deputy chief medical officer Professor Michael Kidd. As I am not a close contact, I’m now able to attend the chamber.”