Barnaby Joyce refuses to rule out One Nation switch after Nationals exit

The Nationals face an existential threat from One Nation as former leader Barnaby Joyce weighs up a sensational switch to Pauline Hanson’s party after quitting his seat.

Barnaby Joyce has left the door ajar on defecting to One Nation, triggering alarm bells among his Nationals colleagues who fear the far-right party is a major threat.

After announcing his intention to quit the country party and not recontest the seat of New England, the former deputy prime minister on Monday confirmed that while he had spoken with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson again at the weekend, “nothing is locked in”.

Although many of his party mates are hopeful the maverick MP will choose to stay in the tent – especially if the party dumps net zero as expected – speculation is rife he could run in the Senate on a One Nation ticket at the next election, due by 2028.

Mr Joyce said on Monday he “won’t be salami sliced in or out”.

He cited an irreparable breakdown in his relationship with Nationals leader David Littleproud as his reason for leaving, pointing to the decision to effectively ban him from campaigning outside his electorate, and being dumped from the frontbench for “generational change”.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she had spoken to Mr Joyce to “check in”, but this was a matter for the National Party.

Mr Littleproud said he wouldn’t move to kick Mr Joyce out of the party.

Barnaby Joyce is weighing his options.

“The reality is he’s still a member of the Nationals party … if he wants to be part of the party room while he’s still a member … he’s more than welcome to participate like everyone else that’s in the party room,” he said.

Queensland Nationals senator Matt Canavan said whether or not Mr Joyce wound up at One Nation, the right-wing party represented the biggest threat to the Nationals.

“People have had a gutful of us being woke and not standing up for their views, and if we create a vacuum, someone will fill it. One Nation is starting to fill that, and in a bunch of seats it won’t take much for us to lose the primary vote so we’re in real trouble. That’s a real risk,” he told this masthead.

“The anecdote is exactly what I’ve been saying, we just need to fight for what our people want us to fight for – and the top of that list is net zero.”

Mr Canavan said he had no intention of switching parties, despite Ms Hanson’s attempts to court him.

Nationals whip and Queensland MP Michelle Landry said she believed if someone is elected under a party banner, then they should remain with that party.

“I think that gets a bit upsetting, and it gets really upsetting for our members too because they put a lot of effort into handing out how to vote cards, doing pre-poll, that sort of stuff. So it does get a bit disheartening for people,” the Member for Capricornia said, adding there was “no way in hell” she would defect to One Nation.

Originally published as Barnaby Joyce refuses to rule out One Nation switch after Nationals exit