Barnaby Joyce to quit as Nationals leader after sex harassment claims
PM exposed by Barnaby’s career flameout amid suggestions an appearance on ABC’s Australian Story could have saved him.
- Barnaby announces he’s quitting
- Joyce’s pay to halve
- Shanahan comment
- Joyce’s blunders and brilliance
- Nats leadership frontrunners
Barnaby Joyce will resign as Nationals leader on Monday amid sexual harassment allegations and growing calls from colleagues that he stand aside. He confirmed he would go to the back bench and stay in his seat of New England. He declined to endorse a leadership successor. The move follows more than a fortnight of chaos in Coalition ranks over Mr Joyce’s future, after it was revealed he was expecting a baby with former media adviser Vikki Campion.
7.45pm: ‘Australian Story could have stopped this’
One of the most stunning aspects of the Barnaby Joyce saga was the complete absence of a strategy to deal with it, The Australian’s Editor-at-large Paul Kelly says.
Speaking to Sky News, Kelly said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull believed his deputy should have resigned at least a week ago, when he publicly called out Mr Joyce’s “shocking judgement”.
“That was in effect a vote of no confidence,” he said.
“The really critical point to make is that there was no sensible discussion between Joyce and Turnbull about how the Joyce affair was to be managed...There was no strategy.
“This is an extraordinary fiasco.”
The bad blood and mismanagement was apparent right to the bitter end, with reporters travelling with the Prime Minister in the US revealing Mr Joyce didn’t even bother to call him to tell him he would be stepping down, instead telling Acting Prime Minister Mathias Cormann.
“Every single media adviser associated with this should just resign, they should just go,” the McKell Institute’s Sam Crosby told Sky.
“The best case you could say is that they weren’t listened to, in which case they are ineffectual and should go, or they weren’t giving the same advice, which is: you should get out in front of this sort of thing.”
“They needed to go sit down with (ABC program) Australian Story during Barnaby’s byelection, at the point at which he could be re-baptised by the electorate. He could have been sat down with his partner and they could have told their side of the story.”
Mr Joyce appeared on Australian Story back in 2006, in an episode titled ‘The Polariser’ which featured his wife Natalie, who said he sometimes needed reminding that he had a family at home.
“The tunnel vision is sometimes very difficult,” she told the program. “But, yeah, sometimes he needs a good kick to remind him that, you know, he does have a wife and four children and we are still here sometimes.
“But, yeah, you give him that little swift kick and he usually, “Oh, right, yep, OK.” And away we go again.”
Mr Joyce’s Nationals colleague Senator John “Wacka” Williams said weeks of “terrible headlines” had certainly taken their toll.
“I texted Barnaby this morning and I said ‘Mate, if I was you, I’d have a spell. Take some time, clear your head and get on with your life,” Senator Williams said.
“It’s behind us now.”
You can read Paul Kelly’s full take on the Joyce resignation in tomorrow’s The Weekend Australian.
Sarah Elks 6.36pm: Bridget McKenzie won’t run
Acting Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie says Barnaby Joyce’s decision to step down as Deputy Prime Minister and party leader is the right decision and good for the nation.
Senator McKenzie, the Minister for Rural Health, Sport and Regional Communications, said she had called a special meeting of the Nationals for 8am on Monday when they would elect a new leader to replace Mr Joyce.
She will not run as leader and is confident her position as the party’s deputy is safe.
“Today, we saw him stand down as the leader of our party on Monday and obviously a Cabinet minister,” Senator McKenzie said. “I wish him all the very best, to him and his family, and I know he’s looking forward to spending a lot more time at home as a result of the decision he’s taken today.”
“It is the right decision for the party, I believe for the nation as well, that we as a government can now begin to refocus our conversation with the Australian public around what we want to deliver, what we have been delivering and what we look forward to doing over coming months and years,” she said at a press conference in Brisbane today.
.@senbmckenzie: I won't be running for the Nationals leadership.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 23, 2018
I see my role as deputy leader as unifying the party and making sure we are taking the fight up to Labor.
MORE: https://t.co/pI5AqahuUg #Credlin pic.twitter.com/NXWX1vfOuT
Senator McKenzie said it would not be appropriate for her to speculate about who would be the new leader.
Asked whether Mr Joyce would ever lead the Nationals again, Senator McKenzie said he was “focused on his family and New England”.
She said she had been informed of a sexual harassment complaint against Mr Joyce by Nationals party president Larry Anthony, as soon as it was made by an unidentified West Australian woman.
“The president rang me within 24 hours of the party being in receipt of that complaint,” she said.
She did not say exactly when that was.
“I think the party’s acted really swiftly on this, they received the complaint officially and the president’s acted incredibly swiftly, informed me as acting leader, which I was back at that time, and then he went to see Barnaby, had the discussion there, so there was natural justice, and I think encouraged – as I do – the complainant if there are criminal concerns that she should take those to the police.”
Senator McKenzie said she did not raise the complaint with Mr Joyce when she spoke with him today or yesterday.
“That was a discussion between the party president and him (Mr Joyce) as the person who is affected by the formal complaint,” she said. “I don’t know the details of the complaint, I simply know that a formal complaint has been received by the party and it’s been dealt with within the party organisation.”
She said the saga had been a “distraction” for the Nationals but said Mr Joyce shouldn’t have resigned earlier than he did.
“I pay my respects to Barnaby for making the right decision today for our party, and for the government, and for his family, so that we can get back on message and start talking about the things that Australians want us to talk about,” she said.
Senator McKenzie paid tribute to Mr Joyce for his fierce advocacy for the regions.
Primrose Riordan 6.12pm: GST Gillespie’s priority
Lyne MP David Gillespie has said he would like to see the raising the rate of the GST put back on the table for consideration if he was to become the leader of the Nationals.
The Nats will vote on a new leader at a partyroom meeting on Monday morning.
“That’s not government policy...but I’m very happy to put that back on the agenda,” he told Sky News when asked about the prospect.
Dr Gillespie said the GST carve up was dysfunctional and had perverse incentives.
“Well the carve up for example is dysfunctional, it gives many states let’s them get off the hook, rather than developing their economy and getting greater GST receipts, they put their hand out for the GST to make up the difference.”
“It’s counterproductive, it’s socialism on a macro-states scale, that’s the most obvious thing to address. My colleagues in WA will be hearing me loud and clear.”
He said he would also like to look at tax reform more generally, and federation reform.
Dr Gillespie said small business was also getting a raw deal in terms of industrial relations, and he would like to see what can be improved in that area.
Primrose Riordan 5.30pm: Sex claim ‘a whole new dimension’
Mathias Cormann said the allegation of sexual harassment, aired first in The Daily Telegraph last night and published across newspapers today, gave the controversy “ a whole new dimension”.
“Obviously the events of today then gave it a whole new dimension and he recognised that, in all of the circumstances, it was appropriate for him to step down so that he can deal with the matters that are coming his way,” he said in Perth.
Asked if Joyce should have stepped down earlier Mr Cormann simply said it was appropriate that he stood down today due to the allegations against him.
“This started off as a deeply personal matter. Obviously he’s made a judgement, appropriately we believe, that the developments today, the allegations that were raised today, which he disputed...made it necessary for him to step down and we support him in that decision.”
Primrose Riordan 5.17pm: McCormack to stand for leadership
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Michael McCormack has confirmed he will contest the Nationals leadership in a formal statement.
“On Monday, I will ask my colleagues to back me for the leadership of The Nationals, so together we can work to grow local economies, increase local opportunities and create local jobs. We can do this together as a united team,” he said.
He laid out his credentials and said he had served in various portfolios.
“I am a fighter and I have the drive to deliver. When water rights were challenged in my electorate, I crossed the floor to get a better deal.”
“When a big American company came knocking to take over GrainCorp, I stood up for our farmers and opposed it.”
Mr McCormack said he wanted to “acknowledge Barnaby Joyce for his leadership of The Nationals over the past two years and thank him for being a true advocate for the needs of regional areas”.
“His legacy will endure,” he said.
Ben Packham 5.14pm: Gillespie keen on leadership
Nationals MP David Gillespie has confirmed he will put his hand up for the leadership.
He says he wants to bring a new focus to fixing the federation, tax reform, improving the industrial relations system for small business, and addressing the GST carve-up.
“I’ve had ministerial responsibilities for the last two years... I think I’m a safe pair of hands and can mend and unify parts of our party that have been under strain with these recent events. And I believe I have got the drive and capacity to do the job as the leader of the National Party,” Dr Gillespie said.
“I think we need to get further tax reform. People are sick of the blame game between the various levels of government and we want to fix up the dysfunctional federation.
“The first thing to do is to address the GST carve up so that it doesn’t excuse states from developing their economy and relying on GST to make up the difference.
“In terms of small business... what BHP and Qantas and large companies can cope with is different from what small business experience. They’re getting a raw deal out of the current arrangements.”
Dr Gillespie said Mr Joyce had done ‘an amazing job”, but “we’ve got to move on and get our house in order”.
Primrose Riordan 5.11pm: Cormann explains why he got the call
Malcolm Turnbull was not told by Mr Joyce ahead of time that he would resign, Mr Cormann has appeared to confirm.
Asked why Mr Turnbull was not told first, Mr Cormann said he was the Prime Minister’s representative on the ground as acting prime minister and it was appropriate Mr Joyce called him.
“These are two strong personalities,” Mr Cormann said.
4.55pm: Abbott: Joyce a loss to government
Tony Abbott has described Barnaby Joyce’s move to the backbench as a “loss to the government” and said “part of the problem has been poor management at the most senior levels of government”.
In a Facebook post the former prime minister, who has launched a broadside at Turnbull cabinet ministers in The Australian today, said Mr Joyce had been a strong performer “ever since I brought the previous maverick onto the front bench in opposition”.
“While he could have handled personal issues better, part of the problem has been poor management at the most senior levels of government,” he said.
“Barnaby and those close to him should now be given some healing time but I certainly think he still has much to give to his party and our public life.”
He praised the Nationals, saying the party had “held all its seats at the last election and the Coalition only retained government by the skin of its teeth through this strong performance”.
Primrose Riordan 4.45pm: Chester backs McCormack
Nationals MP Darren Chester, whom Barnaby Joyce demoted in the last ministerial reshuffle, said he was backing Michael McCormack as new Nationals leader.
Mr Chester told Sky News the Nats need a “consensus candidate”. “I think what we need right now is a smooth transition to a new leader.”
Mr Chester said Mr McCormack could heal the divisions in the party and unite Nats from NSW, Queensland and Victoria.
Mr Chester said the Nats had been distracted and “taken the eye off the ball” and needed to refocus on serving regional Australia and winning the next election.
He said he would like to re-enter the ministry but he was not forcing the issue.
James Jeffrey 4.30pm: Weatherboard... what?
Barnaby Joyce opened his press conference in Armidale optimistically: “Can I say right from the start, this is never about me.” With this retrospective fantasy aired, he proceeded to the second sentence, which is when confusion set in: “It’s about the person in the weatherboard and iron, something that manifestly expressed what the National Party is about.”
The person in the… what? Truth be told, Joyce said it a little indistinctly, sort of “weatherboardniron”. Many people, though, heard “Weatherboard Nine”. What or more importantly who were the Weatherboard Nine? Were they innocent and being held on trumped-up charges? Should the nation be fighting for their release?
“Weatherboard and iron” is just a Joyce-folksy way of describing houses with weatherboard walls and corrugated-iron roofs. In other words, inhabited by people doing it tough. A timely reminder that the chocolate wheel of fate doesn’t hand out nice, rent-free apartments to everyone.
(Alas, nobody heard it as “Weatherboard Nein”, which could have been an art house flick about a bunch of disagreeable German immigrants doing it tough in the country. But you can’t have everything.)
Read James Jeffrey’s Sketch tomorrow in The Weekend Australian
— James Jeffrey (@James_Jeffrey) February 23, 2018
A "weatherboard and iron", Little Devonshire St, Darlinghurst, 1901
— Australian Kitsch (@OzKitsch) February 23, 2018
Pic: @cityofsydney #auspol#weatherboardnine pic.twitter.com/p9JLj5UH6Z
Primrose Riordan 4.20pm: ‘Not the last you’ve seen of Barnaby’
Senator John “Wacka” Williams said he was not surprised by Mr Joyce’s decision and the Deputy Prime Minister had been “smashed from pillar to post”.
“I was talking to Barnaby last night and he said look things are just not backing off, (there’s a) story coming out today and I said to him what do you want to do? And he said, well he would consider standing down,” he told Sky News.
“I said good, go put a bit more time to your private life, and have a bit of a break; you’ve been smashed from pillar to post.”
Senator Williams said Mr Joyce was not forced out but did not know if he had lost the support of his party room.
“I can’t speak on behalf of my colleagues, how they would think, how they would vote in a challenge. The decision been made and I wish him well and I’m sure this is not the last you’ve seen of Barnaby Joyce.”
Senator Williams said there could be any number of candidates for the leadership at the party room meeting.
Asked if Michael McCormack would make a good National Party leader, Senator Williams said: “I think he would”.
“There’s probably several others as well. Michael’s always been a good mate of mine, works hard, well presented, and does his job well, but there’s probably several who could do the same job.”
He said he hoped the move will give Mr Joyce, the Joyce family and Mr Joyce’s former staffer and now partner Vikki Campion “a bit of breathing space”.
“I remember when I first said to him, Barnaby you’ve obviously got some problems with your marriage, I just want to make it clear that my wife Nancy and I will not be picking sides, we like you we get on well with you, we like Nat very much we get on well with her, so we stayed in the middle ground and support each where we could.”
Senator Williams said it had been a tough time for Natalie Joyce, his daughters and Ms Campion. “Fancy missing doctors appointments for check-ups et cetera because of media pressure. I think that’s unacceptable. “The media’s been pretty firm on them.”
Primrose Riordan 4.15pm: Joyce’s pay to halve
Barnaby Joyce’s pay will halve after he heads to the backbench. As Deputy Prime Minister he earned $416,191 and as a backbencher this will drop to $203,000 a year.
4.05pm: ‘A litany of allegations’
Barnaby Joyce has spent 16 days fighting off accusations of improper conduct over his affair with his now-pregnant former staffer Vikki Campion, whose moves to two other political offices are under scrutiny.
“Over the last half a month, there has been a litany of allegations. I don’t believe any of them have been sustained,” Mr Joyce told reporters in Armidale early this afternoon.
“(But) to give these people in the weatherboard and iron, in those regional and small towns the best opportunity, this current cacophony of issues has to be put aside.”
The National party executive is investigating a woman’s claims that Mr Joyce sexually harassed her in 2011 - he denies the claims and wants them referred to the police.
But he says reading the allegations on Friday morning prompted him to quit. “I just thought ‘that has to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back’,” he said.
On Wednesday, Mr Joyce told Fairfax he would ride out the storm, but just two days later he said it was “not hard at all” to decide to step down. “It’s incredibly important that there be a circuit-breaker, not just for the parliament, but more importantly, a circuit-breaker for Vikki, for my unborn child, my daughters and for (wife) Nat,” Mr Joyce said.
He also says he won’t “snipe” from the backbench.
“I want to assist my colleagues, where I can, to keep their seats and also, quite naturally, in April, a baby will be born. I’ll have other things on my mind,” he said.
AAP
Primrose Riordan 3.45pm: ‘Barnaby has more courage than most’
Matt Canavan, a political ally of Barnaby Joyce who was seen as a potential successor, paid tribute to the Nationals leader and said none of his mates are perfect.
“Barnaby has more courage than most. He often took up arguments or causes that many seasoned politicians, or advisers, would caution as being ‘too courageous’,” he said in a statement.
“Barnaby often defied their warnings and proved that courage is an essential ingredient towards the recipe of success.”
Mr Canavan said Mr Joyce worked hard to “protect the interests of working people and small businesses in the bush”.
He considered Mr Joyce a mate. “None of my mates are perfect, nor am I. Barnaby has made mistakes but I am sure he will recover, learn and be a better person from them.
“He now has a new partner and a new child to care for and that is much more important than any of his achievements in public life.”
Mr Canavan also said he regretted the effect this had had on Mr Joyce’s wife, Natalie.
“I also express my regret about the impact this has had on Natalie and Barnaby’s four daughters. They are a beautiful family.”
“Nat is a remarkable woman of strength, character and good cheer. All of their girls are bright, vivacious and full of life. I am sure they will thrive beyond these difficult times.”
In a possibly pointed message as the Nats look to elect a new leader he said: “The Nationals party is at its strongest when we work together as a team.”
Party federal president Larry Anthony said Mr Joyce was a great leader of the Nationals and a champion of rural Australia.
“The party will greet this news with a heavy heart but we understand and respect his
decision to stand down as leader,” Mr Anthony said.
Mr Anthony said Mr Joyce will continue to be a huge asset for the rarty as the Member for New England.
“During his time as leader, Barnaby was a fierce advocate for regional Australia. He made
an enormous contribution to The Nationals, highlighted by his herculean efforts to lead the
party to our best electoral result in 20 years at the 2016 federal election, which was critical
to forming a Coalition government.”
3.40pm: Leadership bets are on
“I’m not going to be endorsing anybody,” Barnaby Joyce said when asked about his possible successor at his media conference in Armidale this afternoon.
The three men in line to replace him as Nationals leader include a gastroenterologist, a journalist and a rising star from the agriculture industry.
Michael McCormack opens as the favourite in the #Nationals race to replace Barnaby Joyce #Auspol pic.twitter.com/vYdo6tvAbg
— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) February 23, 2018
The meteoric rise of David Littleproud could continue, with the Maranoa MP tipped by some to challenge strongly for the leadership.
The 41-year-old Queenslander, who ran an agribusiness southwest of Brisbane, was only elected to parliament in 2016 and entered cabinet as Agriculture Minister just two months ago.
His father Brian Littleproud was a long-time Queensland state MP and served as a minister.
Another challenger, Michael McCormack, was editor of the Daily Advertiser in Wagga Wagga through the 1990s, before entering parliament in 2010. He has been touted as a potential leader, but suffered through a difficult interview on Sky News this week where he repeatedly refused to back his boss. The Veterans Affairs Minister also didn’t rule out running for the leadership. “It’s a very hypothetical question, we’ll just have to see what happens in the future,” he said earlier this week.
David Gillespie was a gastroenterologist for 20 years before he entered parliament in 2013 as member for Lyne.
He was appointed Assistant Minister for Rural Health in 2016, before becoming Assistant Minister for Health, and now Assistant Minister for Children and Families.
He yesterday declared he would put himself forward as a leadership candidate if the position became vacant.
Dr Gillespie faces a High Court challenge over his ownership, at the time of election, of a small suburban shopping complex which has an Australia Post franchise.
He could be rendered ineligible to sit in parliament if the court finds he has an indirect financial benefit in the commonwealth.
Former Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester was dumped to the back bench in December and is considered unlikely to win votes in a leadership spill. Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie is Victorian and a senator, so is also unlikely to be considered.
-AAP
Primrose Riordan 3.25pm: Poor reflection on Turnbull: Shorten
Opposition leader Bill Shorten said the scandal reflected poorly on Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership.
“The fact that the scandal has dragged on for 16 days has been damaging to the government, but more importantly, the country. Mr Turnbull’s handling of this has shown an atrocious lack of judgement,” he said at a media conference in Melbourne.
Mr Shorten said two things must happen before the new leader of the National Party is elected. “One, the Nationals cannot be allowed, by virtue of a secret coalition agreement, to 100 per cent decide who the deputy prime minister is. Australians deserve better,” he said.
“And two, the secret coalition agreement dealing out positions in the Turnbull government must be made public.”
3.15pm: Joyce’s blunders and brilliance
The affair, the closet Kiwi, Johnny Depp’s dogs... these are just some of the moments that have defined Barnaby Joyce’s political career to date. Read our retrospective here
Dennis Shanahan 3.05pm: It was always going to end like this
COMMENT
Barnaby Joyce has bowed to the inevitable: no matter how unfair he thinks it is, no matter that he thinks there has been no evidence of wrongdoing, no matter how much he wants to help the outsiders, no matter how much he regrets damage to the National Party and no matter
how much he is sorry for the damage to his family, partner and unborn child, it was always going to end like this.
Joyce just couldn’t see it, he couldn’t appreciate the damage he was doing to the Coalition and why his colleagues were deserting him as he writhed in a political and personal torment which clouded his reason and only served to make him more angry.
Joyce’s call from the heart for “all of this” to stop is understandable and for him and his family the public clamour may diminish but the conditions for public shaming and political
destruction will not go away.
Joyce’s resignation as Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister without tangible evidence of malfeasance is a milestone in Australian political life and forever changes how politicians can live their political lives.
Read Dennis Shanahan’s comment in full here
2.50pm: ‘I will fight for the people in the weatherboard and iron’
On Monday morning I will step down as the Leader of @The_Nationals and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. I would like to thank everyone for offering their support to me, especially the people of New England.
— Barnaby Joyce (@Barnaby_Joyce) February 23, 2018
I will continue to fight for the people in the weatherboard and iron, for the people on the peripheral and the small regional towns. I used my experience of these towns and my goal in life will always be to try to make their lives better.
— Barnaby Joyce (@Barnaby_Joyce) February 23, 2018
.@Barnaby_Joyce: 'The decision came after the allegations I read in the paper. It was the straw that broke the camels back but without a shadow of a doubt I'll stay on as member for New England. I'll go to the backbench.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 23, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/pI5AqahuUg #newsday pic.twitter.com/BW11f7ahPk
Primrose Riordan 2.35pm: Turnbull thanks Joyce for service
Malcolm Turnbull has said the resignation of Barnaby Joyce has not diminished the partnership between the Liberal Party and the Nationals as he acknowledged Mr Joyce’s resignation as Nats leader.
“The Coalition between the Liberals and the Nationals is Australia’s most successful political partnership, having endured for more than 95 years,” the Prime Minister said in a statement. “This partnership is undiminished and will continue to deliver opportunity and security for all Australians.”
Mr Turnbull and Mr Joyce had a public war of words last week over Mr Joyce’s affair with Vikki Campion and he suggested Mr Joyce consider his position.
Now, Mr Turnbull, who is in Washington to meet US President Donald Trump, thanked Mr Joyce.
“I thank Barnaby for his service as Deputy Prime Minister and in his various ministerial roles in which he has been a fierce advocate for rural and regional Australia,” he said.
Mr Turnbull said John McVeigh MP will act as minister for infrastructure and transport ahead of the reshuffle that will result from Mr Joyce’s resignation.
Ben Packham 2.13pm: Joyce doesn’t rule out return
Mr Joyce said he intended to remain in his seat, and did not rule out a return to the leadership.
He thanked voters in his electorate of New England, saying he was humbled by their support.
“People (were) literally running up, and some crying, and offering their support to me.
“I just say, I don’t deserve the support that you’ve given me.
“I’d like to say that it’s absolutely important, it’s incredibly important that there be a circuit-breaker, not just for the parliament, but more importantly, a circuit-breaker for Vikki, for my unborn child, my daughters and for Nat.
“This has got to stop. It’s not fair on them. It’s just completely and utterly unwarranted.”
Barnaby Joyce’s press conference https://t.co/gwdFnMw3uV
— Sam Buckingham-Jones (@SamEBJones) February 23, 2018
Ben Packham 2.10pm: Joyce refers allegation to police
Mr Joyce said he would go to the back bench in what he said would be a “circuit breaker” for the parliament, for his wife, his children and Ms Campion.
He said he had referred the allegations made against him, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, to police. He denies the claims.
Mr Joyce said he had spoken to the Acting Prime Minister Mathias Cormann to inform him of his decision.
Ben Packham 2.05pm: Joyce to quit as Nationals leader
Barnaby Joyce will resign as Nationals leader amid sexual harassment allegations and growing calls from colleagues that he stand aside.
“On Monday morning at the party room, I will step down as the leader of the National Party and deputy leader of Australia,” he said at a media conference in Armidale.
He confirmed he would go to the back bench and he declined to endorse a successor.
The move follows more than a fortnight of chaos in Coalition ranks over Mr Joyce’s future, after it was revealed he was expecting a baby with former media adviser Vikki Campion.
Ben Packham 1.50pm: Nats MPs can take over if needed
Former Nationals leader Tim Fischer says the party has MPs who could stand up and take the leadership, if necessary.
“The job maketh the man,” Mr Fischer said, noting he had been written off by some when in his early days as leader.
Mr Fischer said politics had become more difficult today, and scandals harder to recover from.
“There’s not much margin for error today,” he said. “The 24-7 relentless news cycle… One bad press conference and you’re burned for weeks.”
Joyce denies allegation
The sexual harassment allegation, which Mr Joyce has denied and has branded “spurious and defamatory”, was confirmed by the Nationals executive last night.
It comes more than two weeks after it was revealed Mr Joyce was having a baby with former media adviser Vikki Campion, sparking chaos in Coalition ranks.
Nationals MP Andrew Gee today called on Mr Joyce to stand aside, joining Victorian MP Andrew Broad who made a similar plea yesterday.
Sky News reports Mr Gee has declared “all bets are off” in the wake of the sexual harassment allegations.
Nationals federal president Larry Anthony yesterday confirmed the party’s executive was assessing a sexual harassment complaint lodged against Mr Joyce.
Mr Anthony said the complaint was being “taken seriously” and treated with “strict confidentiality”.
The allegation has intensified the pressure facing Mr Mr Joyce, who was yesterday called upon to resign and move to the backbench by Victorian colleague Andrew Broad.
Some Nationals MPs in WA are aware of the woman’s identity and the nature of the allegations, but declined to comment last night, saying they wanted to protect the woman’s privacy.
It is understood that she approached WA Nationals leader Mia Davies and MP Terry Redman in recent days. The woman is not a Nationals MP or staffer.
Deputy federal leader Bridget McKenzie was also made aware of the allegations.
The Australian understands the allegation was one of the key reasons behind Ms Davies’s announcement on Tuesday that the WA Nationals had withdrawn support for Mr Joyce.
It was also why Ms Davies refused to answer questions at a media conference.
Joyce harassment claim ‘serious’
Mr Cormann said the Nationals were, appropriately, investigating the formal complaint received against Mr Joyce. “Any allegation of sexual harassment is very serious. Barnaby Joyce has denied the allegation, but it’s being investigated,” he said.
“And subject to the outcomes of that investigation, obviously, the appropriate steps would follow.”
“It’s important that we … establish the facts.”
He said the leadership of the Nationals was a matter for that party, and it would be inappropriate to comment further.
At an event with Qantas this morning to argue the case for business tax cuts, Treasurer Scott Morrison said: “The only Joyce I’m talking about today is Alan Joyce.”
Meanwhile, Labor says the findings of a Nationals investigation into a sexual harassment complaint against Barnaby Joyce should be made public.
“The National Party should assure Australians that they will be properly investigated and the findings properly made public so that all Australians can have confidence the National party has investigated properly,” deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek told Sky News today.
Ahead of a Nationals party room meeting on Monday, there were renewed calls for the Deputy Prime Minister to step aside as colleagues grow frustrated with his handling of the love-child scandal.
NSW Nationals MP David Gillespie yesterday declared he would put himself forward as a leadership candidate if the position became vacant.
Nationals MPs said they felt “blindsided” by Mr Joyce’s attempts this week to rehabilitate his image through a favourable press interview with Fairfax Media, conducted with Ms Campion.
“He’s telling us not to talk and it’ll all blow over, and then he goes and does that,” a Nationals MP said.
The Australian understands that Queensland Nationals are emerging as critical to Mr Joyce’s survival. Senior figures inside the Liberal National Party are privately pushing for Mr Joyce to quit, with MPs in the state split “down the middle”.
The agriculture and infrastructure estimates hearings next week are expected to probe the movements of Ms Campion between ministerial offices, and the departure of Mr Joyce’s former chief of staff, Diana Hallam.
Mr Broad, the member for Mallee, urged Mr Joyce to move to the backbench, saying his mind was no longer on the job and he had shown he was unable to step up as acting prime minister. “It is time he takes a step back, regains some credibility and works through some issues he needs to work through,” Mr Broad told ABC radio.
“He’s meant to be taking a break and he’s clearly playing to the media. This is an issue we should have let quietly die and let’s get on with the core job but he’s not prepared to do that.”
Mr Broad did not commit to moving a spill motion but said he would raise the issue in the party room on Monday. He said Mr Joyce had told him on the phone he would not stand down.
Dr Gillespie, the Assistant Minister for Children and Families, told The Australian: “I support Barnaby Joyce as the leader but if he was to choose to stand down and have some time out and sort through his considerable issues, I would, as in other leaders ballots, put my hand up again.’’
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