Barnaby Joyce could announce today he is leaving the Nationals and joining One Nation, according to reports.
The former National leader said last month he was considering his future in the party following the breakdown with leader David Littleproud and would make a decision in the summer.
But this morning The Australian and Nine newspapers are reporting he could make an announcement before Parliament resumes today.
The Australian said, “It understands that many of his colleagues believe it is likely Mr Joyce will make his intentions clear on Thursday”.
However, National leader David Littleproud urged Joyce to stay in the party room and said he could “make a contribution”.
Littleproud told Sky News yesterday.
We have given him (time and space) to work where he wants to be.
We want him back in our party room because that’s the contract that he and the people of New England signed, that he was a member of a national party, and we hope he’ll come back (so) he can contribute.
The Sydney Morning Herald last night claimed Joyce was due to join One Nation and reported he had told the masthead he would have more to say today.
Newspapers stated that Matt Canavan and Michael McCormack urged Joyce to remain in the Nationals, but that Canavan was prepared to “take the fight” to Joyce if Joyce joined Pauline Hanson’s party.
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Good morning and welcome to our live politics blog. I am martin farrer With the top nightly stories and then Krishna Dhanji Will take you to the end of the last week of the parliamentary year.
barnaby joyce According to reports this morning, he could announce as soon as today that he is leaving the Nationals and joining One Nation. The former National leader and deputy prime minister said last month he would not stand again as a National in his New England seat and that he would consider his position over the summer. But speculations are rife that he will reveal his plans today. More coming.
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