Nationals leadership spill: Barnaby Joyce v Michael McCormack?

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has heaped praise on deputy PM Michael McCormack as speculation of an imminent Nationals leadership challenge continues.

Barnaby Joyce during debate in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra today. Picture: AAP

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has heaped praise on deputy PM Michael McCormack as speculation of an imminent Nationals leadership challenge continues.

While former leader Barnaby Joyce has denied he’s campaigning for his old job back, reports of a possible spill as early as next week persist.

It follows rumbles of dissatisfaction within the Nationals’ ranks over Mr McCormack’s performance, and a perception he’s failed to muscle up to the Liberals over key rural issues such as the push for an agriculture-specific visa.

The Nats appeared to be rolled on the visa, after Mr Morrison announced plans last weekend to get more Australians into harvest work to fix the ag labour shortage — a plan met with derision and frustration from farmers.

But this morning, Mr Morrison insisted he and Mr McCormack had been working toward an agriculture visa “since day one” as part of a long-term plan to address the issue.

“Of course we’re working toward an agriculture visa and we’ve got a plan for how to get there and Michael mcCormack has been critical to that process,” he said.

Asked if he would welcome a return of Barnaby Joyce to the Nats’ leadership, Mr Morrison said: “They’re matters for the National Party but what I do know is that there’s a coalition between the Nationals and the Liberals that has never been stronger.”

“I continue to work with (Mr McCormack) enthusiastically, passionately,” he said.

Mr McCormack this morning denied his leadership was under threat, stating he had majority support of the party.

“The fact is not one National Party member has come to me to say they’re dissatisfied with anything,” he said.

Yesterday, Mr Joyce — who resigned in February following revelations of his affair with a staffer and allegations of sexual harassment — rejected claims that he was agitating for a spill or that running the numbers but said he’d take the job if he was drafted.

“I have always said if anything was offered to me I would take it,” he told Sky News.

“It is faux modesty to say that if you are offered a job you’ll turn it down... If it came up and it was offered to me, I would take it, but I am not touting for it, I am not collecting the numbers for it.”

The latest leadership rumblings come less than two months after the Liberals’ spill which saw Malcolm Turnbull turfed from office. At the time, a number of Nationals were highly critical of the Libs for agitating for a spill instead of getting on with the job.

It’s understood Mr Joyce’s backers include a number of Queensland MPs who believe he has more cut through in their electorates, while the southern Nats believe a return of Mr Joyce would be deeply unpopular.