Michael McCormack makes a dignified exit

Michael McCormack has behaved with grace and courage, with both sides of the house erupting into applause as he finished his last stint in the PM’s chair.

Ousted Nationals leader Michael McCormack. Picture: AAP

Michael McCormack has behaved with grace and courage in a bizarre parliamentary moment of history.

Michael McCormack led the Coalition in question time today as incoming Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has not yet been sworn in as a minister.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is attending the chamber remotely as he quarantines at The Lodge after his overseas trip to the G7 in Cornwall.

No longer leader of the Nationals but still deputy prime minister, McCormack has stuck to his duty in the chamber and behaved not just admirably but also with competence and good humour.

The manner of his departure was brutal and political and the manner of his professional behaviour has demonstrated a commitment to the Nationals and the Coalition.

At the conclusion of question time, both sides of the house erupted into applause as Mr McCormack finished his last stint in the Prime Minister’s chair.

Scott Morrison will move quickly to deal with Barnaby Joyce as the new leader as professionally as McCormack behaved in an invidious position beyond his control.

As McCormack alluded to in question time politics is about numbers, he’s without them now but Joyce and Morrison are helped by his behaviour in their pursuit of the winning election numbers.

McCormack wishes Joyce ‘all the best’

Earlier, Mr McCormack said he respected the decision made by his colleagues after his predecessor Barnaby Joyce defeated him in a spill this morning.

Mr McCormack said he wished Mr Joyce “all the best” and acknowledged it was a “democratic decision.”

He also said he would “take some time” to think about his future, but reiterated his commitment to his electorate.

Mr McCormack said he was proud to serve alongside Scott Morrison, particularly as the government steered Australia through the coronavirus pandemic.

“I regard him as a true leader of our nation,” he said.

“I want to wish the Nationals Party all the best and I want to wish the government all the best.”

Barnaby Joyce MP during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Asked why the Nationals felt justified in holding a leadership spill in the middle of a pandemic, Mr McCormack said “you would have to ask the people who called on the spill today.”

Mr McCormack said Scott Morrison had thanked him for his service following the outcome of today’s spill.

Mr Morrison welcomed Barnaby Joyce as the new Nationals leader and incoming Deputy Prime Minister, saying the pair will work closely to help Australia navigate the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Prime Minister thanked Mr McCormack for his service to the nation, saying the Liberal-National Coalition had been a “successful and enduring partnership for seven decades” and would continue to be so.

“It will continue to be a strong partnership, one based on shared values and a shared passion for building an even stronger Australia,” he said. “We have achieved so much together, especially for rural and regional Australia, and together we will achieve even more.”

“Our focus remains on two outcomes – protecting lives and protecting livelihoods, as we continue to bolster our vaccine roll out and build on the economic recovery that has led to the creation of almost one million jobs since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Mr Morrison said he shared a passion with Mr Joyce for ensuring the regions and rural communities were successful.

“I thank Michael McCormack for his dedicated service as Deputy Prime Minister. Michael will continue to be an invaluable member of the National Party, and a passionate advocate for regional and rural communities,” he said. “I wish him and his wife Catherine and their children well.”

McCormack evokes Rudd-Gillard years

Labor used question time to attack the Coalition for its series of changing leaders, after Barnaby Joyce won a Nationals leadership vote this morning.

A spill motion was moved against Michael McCormack in the Nationals partyroom, resulting in Mr Joyce being elected party leader and deputy prime minister. Mr Joyce will be sworn in as deputy prime minister on Tuesday. Mr Joyce will be sworn in as deputy prime minister on Tuesday.

“If the Morrison-McCormick government was going so well, why have you been replaced?” Anthony Albanese asked ousted deputy prime minister Mr McCormack.

Mr McCormack hit back, saying Australians remembered the “dysfunctional” Rudd-Gillard years.

“They were chaotic. They were not good for this nation,” he said.

Michael McCormack during Question Time at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Martin Ollman

“We have worked very hard as a government to repay the debt left two hours as a legacy by the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years.”

Appearing in question time via web call, Scott Morrison said Mr McCormack was a “tremendous bloke” and extended his “heartfelt thanks” for his time serving as deputy prime minister.

He also congratulated Mr Joyce and said the Coalition was committed to a “strong type of government” to support regional Australia.

At the conclusion of question time, both sides of the house erupted into applause as Mr McCormack finished his last stint in the Prime Minister’s chair.