I clearly misunderstood the role of what being the leader of the Nationals was all about. I had thought it meant acting like any other political leader, not a feudal lord. It turns out that so long as Barnaby Joyce retains the support of a mere 10 other Nationals in parliament he can pretty well do whatever he likes.
That’s the only conclusion one can draw, as ministers and even the Prime Minister continue to bat away questions about the appropriateness of staffing allocations, receipt of rent free accommodation and the notion of inappropriate fiduciary relationships between a boss and a subordinate.
These are matters for the Nationals we are constantly being told. If the conservative party of the regions won’t properly consider such matters, doesn’t the government and the parliament have a duty to ensure reasonable standards are maintained? According to the logic of the government a Nationals leader could literally moon the nation as long as he retained the support of 10 other members who didn’t grasp the inappropriateness of doing so.
If a leader of the Nationals can control his party room numbers he can do whatever he likes. What sort of standard is that for the Prime Minister to abide by? Or indeed elected MPs and Senators who so often claim to have the courage to stand up for the regions. A poll out today highlights that their constituents agreed with the exposing of Joyce’s actions, which is hardly surprising given the dislocation between his philosophical utterances over the years and his recent actions.
But that’s not even the main issue here. It’s the professional flaws in Joyce’s conduct which demand more attention.
The ministerial code of conduct makes clear that the PM must sign off on “partners” who are assigned to ministerial offices. Even if we accept Joyce’s argument that his mistress technically wasn’t his partner when she worked for him, worked for Matt Canavan and then worked for him again, Joyce does acknowledge they were partnered up by the time she worked for Damien Drum. However because Drum wasn’t a minister, instead operating as chief whip, at the time, all is ok apparently.
Not really. The adviser rank that Vikki Campion was appointed to in Drum’s office was a rank usually reserved for ministerial appointments. It’s a complete gaming of the system to simply shovel her into Drum’s office and claim all is ok. Besides, the role of the Whip is an internal party role — basically marshalling MPs for votes in the chamber. Why would the Whip need a second media adviser? He hardly needs one.
If it’s ok for partners to be allocated to non ministerial offices with adviser and senior adviser pay packets, where does it stop? They could do so in backbenchers offices too without violating the ministerial code of conduct. I hate to break it to the Nationals, but the allocated taxpayer funded staffing positions they are so generously given shouldn’t be treated as a play thing of the leader.
Even if Joyce survives this parliamentary week, the questions about staffing allocations and acceptance of rent free accommodation will persist. If he’s acting PM next week that will keep the focus on his conduct and the appropriateness of him continuing to hold such high office. And don’t underestimate the likelihood of a change of heart for Nationals who upon returning to their electorates find out just how angry people are with this whole sorry saga. Not just the personal issues involved, but the use of taxpayer resources as play money, and the flouting of standards, to look after insiders.
Peter van Onselen is a professor of politics and foundation chair of Journalism at the University of Western Australia.
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