Coalition at risk of civil war

Barnaby Joyce’s rejection of Malcolm Turnbull’s “inept and unnecessary” intervention into the National Party’s leadership is the worst possible result for the government, the Coalition, the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister himself.

Turnbull’s decision to attempt to blast Joyce out of the Nationals leadership and his cabinet has backfired badly with Joyce’s scorning his criticisms and calling on the strength of the clan loyalty that is a tradition in the 85-year-old country party.

LIVE COVERAGE: Joyce attacks Turnbull: the fallout

Country MPs from all parties can’t abide media executions and one sacked minister who read about his removal in the media famously declared that “in the bush we shoot our own dogs”.

Unable to persuade Joyce to go on a leader-to-leader basis, Turnbull launched an extraordinary personal attack on Joyce, traversed all the family devastation in the full glare of the television cameras, criticised his personal decisions and effectively called on him to resign as Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister.

Coupling the attack with an equally extraordinary ban on sex between ministers and staffers, Turnbull ensured he simultaneously angered Nationals and Liberal MPs and senators, angering Joyce and giving rise to immediate suggestions there would be resignations in ministerial offices.

Nationals, even those trying to get Joyce to stand down, rallied to the Nationals banner and Liberals were aghast as Turnbull put the Coalition at risk of civil war.

Looking impotent against Joyce, Turnbull tried a public campaign of humiliation to rid himself of his former “mate” but has sparked a worse situation with the obvious suggestion from the Nationals that Joyce was only given a temporary reprieve now in danger of turning from a blasting out to cementing in.

The Nationals are now divided like never before, the partnership at the top of the Coalition is broken and there will be more recriminations and turmoil to come.