‘Deeply personal’: Malcolm Turnbull denies bad blood with Barnaby Joyce

Malcolm Turnbull says Barnaby Joyce’s decision to quit was the right one, denying ‘bad blood’ despite resignation snub.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addresses the media during a door stop outside Blair House in Washington DC. Picture: Nathan Edwards

WASHINGTON: Malcolm Turnbull says Barnaby Joyce has made the “right” decision to resign as deputy prime minister and rejected claims there was “bad blood” between the Coalition parties despite weeks of anger and frustration over the National leader’s conduct and the distraction it has caused.

The Prime Minister learned of Mr Joyce’s pending resignation via journalists in Washington and has received a letter from the member for New England but no phone call, with tensions still brewing after the two leaders clashed over Mr Joyce’s affair and now relationship with former media adviser Vikki Campion.

Mr Turnbull has introduced a new ministerial code of conduct to ban sexual relationships between ministers and staff members and had asked Mr Joyce to “reflect” on his position, infuriating the Nationals MP who saw it as an unnecessary intervention from the Liberal Party leader.

Mr Joyce is also facing a sexual harassment claim from Catherine Marriott, a West Australian woman who is a respected leader in the agricultural sector.

Speaking at an early morning press conference outside Blair House, where Mr Turnbull’s travelling party is staying, the Prime Minister thanked Mr Joyce for his service as deputy prime minister and minister and looked forward to working with the new National Party leader, who will be elected on Monday.

“This is really a very personal matter for Barnaby, he has to deal as he said with some personal issues, he’s got to deal with a complaint that’s been made about him and as he said he believes he cannot do that from the despatch box,” Mr Turnbull said.

“I think he’s taken the right decision, the judgement that he’s made in resigning I think is the right one for himself and his family.”

Mr Turnbull said there were “no issues” between the Nationals and Liberal Party over the scandal surrounding Mr Joyce, denying it had caused “bad blood”.

“You may well assert that but I do not accept it or agree with it,” the Prime Minister said. “The Coalition between the National Party and the Liberal Party is strong and enduring. The issues that have been the subject of public discussion over the last two weeks have not been issues between Nationals and Liberals. We have a 95-year-old political alliance, the longest in Australian history, and it is absolutely enduring.”