Nationals leader McCormack issues warning as Joyce circles, tension grows

Michael McCormack sounds warning after Barnaby Joyce signals he is open to being drafted back to the Nats leadership.

Nationals leader Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce in the House of Representatives Chamber at Parliament House.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has sounded a warning to potential rivals after Barnaby Joyce signalled he was open to being drafted back to the Nationals leadership before the next election.

Renewed focus on a comeback by Mr Joyce comes as the ­Nationals face internal turmoil, disagreement over key policy issues — including a new agricultural visa — and growing concern that the party must compete more strongly with the Liberals to ­uphold its key interests in the ­regions.

Mr McCormack warned against leadership instability, ­saying rural communities wanted “secure and stable” government that listened to their needs. “That’s what my leadership is ­providing,” he told The Australian.

Nationals MPs have defied the appeal this week from Mr McCormack for his colleagues to refrain from backgrounding journalists.

Some Nationals told The Australian they believed Mr Joyce had the support of many colleagues to return to the leadership, while others ruled out supporting a leadership change before the next federal poll.

Some MPs argued the investigation into Mr Joyce’s conduct following a sexual harassment complaint had fallen flat, while no evidence had been uncovered to show he had misused parliamentary entitlements following revelations of an affair with a former staffer, with whom he had a baby.

Growing tensions in the junior Coalition party follow claims from 2GB radio broadcaster Ray Hadley that Mr McCormack had backgrounded against the then Nationals leader before February’s leadership change.

Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce (left) stands behind Nationals party leader Michael McCormack, right, after he took over the job in February.

On Tuesday, Mr McCormack appeared to lash out at colleagues for briefing against him, amid concern he had failed to secure a new agricultural visa. Mr McCormack told parliament: “I will never, ever background a journalist and I think there is a cancer in Canberra at the moment, and it’s people who background journalists.”

In an interview with The Australian, Mr Joyce said he had not canvassed support among colleagues but made clear he would not turn down the job if it were offered to him.

“I have never called one colleague to ask for their vote, not one,” he said. “My focus is making sure I look after people in New England. I am focused on the National Party ­getting the best possible result at the next election and as many of our colleagues retaining their seats, which is what we did last time, and also picking one up on the way.”

Speaking on Sky News, he said: “I’ve always said that, if anything was offered to me, I would take it … It is faux modesty to say if you are offered a job you will turn it down. That is garbage”.

Mr McCormack responded by defending his leadership, arguing that regional communities wanted stability in government. He said he would continue to work closely with Mr Joyce. “All of us are working to deliver for country communities, to back small business and to back farmers, which is where Barnaby is playing an important role as drought envoy,” the Nationals leader said.

“I will continue to work with Barnaby and all my colleagues to stick up for regional Australia and for country people. Regional Australians want ­secure and stable leadership which listens to their specific needs, ­understands their unique differences and delivers for them — that’s what the Nationals stand for. And that’s what my leadership is ­providing”.

Mr Joyce expressed concern yesterday on moving the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem because of possible consequences on exports. “We’ve got to be careful,” he said. “In Indonesia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, there’s lots of sensitivity here. We have to take them on this journey with us.”

Some of Mr Joyce’s colleagues said yesterday that he had greater fundraising capability and a higher profile than Mr McCormack. “I know Barnaby does harbour aspirations to return before the election,” one MP said. “Whether he wants to pursue that or wants to be drafted is another question.

“If Barnaby wanted to come back and bid for the leadership, I’d probably vote for Barnaby”.

Another Nationals MP who had previously supported Mr McCormack said the leadership issue could be revisited before the next election. “There are strong arguments from within to look at this sooner,” the MP said.

The MP warned of a “leadership void” and questioned the ability of Mr McCormack to stand up for the party’s interests.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, who was a leadership contender following Mr Joyce’s decision to step down in February, told The Australian: “There’s no chance of a leadership contest.”

Nationals frontbencher Darren Chester also dismissed speculation that Mr Joyce was positioning to regain the deputy prime ministership.