Barnaby Joyce says he doesn’t have a drinking problem

Barnaby Joyce was asked directly if he had a drinking problem after footage emerged of him on a footpath last week.

Barnaby Joyce has vehemently denied having a drinking problem, following calls from a federal MP to introduce random drug and alcohol testing for politicians and their staff.

On Thursday, Teal MP Zali Steggall called for the introduction of legislation for random drug and alcohol citing “ongoing issues with too much alcohol consumption” Parliament House.

The call came after the Nationals backbencher was filmed sprawled drunk on a Canberra footpath shouting into his phone after a long parliamentary sitting day.

After Ms Stegall’s proposal was knocked back by the Prime Minister, who argued politicians should act responsibly “at all times”, Mr Joyce was asked directly if he had a drinking problem.

“No, I don’t. I don’t and I can affirm that,” he told Sky News.

“I have a problem if you mix alcohol with medication and that was shown in brilliant form.

“I go long periods without having a drink and so I’ll stand by that.”

Mr Joyce said he wanted to take responsibility for what happened. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

During Thursday’s Question Time, Ms Steggall argued that most workplaces across Australia had random alcohol and drug testing in place to ensure a “safe and respectful” working environment.

Mr Joyce, who has been urged by Nationals Leader David Littleproud to take leave to deal with personal matters, noted that the comments were clearly directed towards him.

“I thought Zali, because she’s interested in renewables, would be advocating renewables off the beach at Manly and transmission lines for the people at Mosman and maybe… a wind factory or two they could put one at Middle Head,” he said.

“But no... she’s very moved by this issue.”

Mr Joyce added that he was filmed by a bystander off the grounds of Parliament House.

Ms Stegall’s breath testing proposal was “her business”.

“I did the wrong thing and it rests on my head, I was the one who fell off the planter box. I was the one who was filmed on the street. I did the wrong thing. That’s it,” he said.

Ms Steggall said there was a problem that needed to b. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged there had been issues “from time to time” in parliament however did not support the introduction of random alcohol and drug testing for politicians and staff.

Ms Stegall said it was clear there was a culture of alcohol inside of the building.

She said she had received an outpouring of public support for her idea.

“Too often alcohol is laughed off as larrikin behaviour - but it’s the example it sets,” she told NCA NewsWire.

“I have certainly, walking around when we have had late votes, observed what I would assume is a level of alcohol consumption.

“I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

The Sydney MP said she planned to continue to raise the proposal, which has gained the support of fellow crossbenchers.

“I think one of the things random testing does it that it elevates the consequence of not being responsible, because it does mean there is a means that you can get caught out, and there can be consequences.”