While there is no evidence that Abbott and Joyce have accepted a salary for their special envoy roles, an offer of payment, if there was one, could cause them problems.
Grattan talks with Deep Saini about Husar’s announcement she will not contest the next election, Joyce’s book, and the hotly debated National Energy Guarantee.
Turnbull is weaving the extraordinary saga of this first term MP into the government’s familiar narrative about Shorten - that he doesn’t tell the truth and his workers-friend credentials are phoney.
Politics podcast: Barnaby Joyce at his provocative best
Barnaby Joyce has confirmed he could cross the floor on the federal legislation associated with the National Energy Guarantee. “Of course I could,” he says.
As the Joyce saga continued to suck political oxygen in the wake of Sunday’s TV interview with Joyce and partner Vikki Campion, he rejected speculation that he might not contest his New England seat.
The Seven Network paid a reported $150,000 for the interview which Joyce and Campion are putting into a trust fund for Sebastian, who was born in April.
It’s been another colourful week in federal politics, highlighted by Greg Hunt’s swearing, the Barnaby Joyce saga taking yet another turn, and One Nation falling apart at the seams.
In democratic political systems, public officials are accountable through the media to the people. That responsibility to be accountable comes with public office. It is not a marketable commodity.
Michael McCormack on Barnaby’s future, latte sippers and other matters
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In this interview Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack pointedly avoids saying Joyce should run again in his New England seat at the election.
Joyce sought leave from the Nationals whip, Michelle Landry, and he has been granted a parliamentary pair by Labor – which means the numbers in the House of Representatives will not be affected.
Malcolm Turnbull handled the Barnaby Joyce affair badly and his ban on ministers having sex with members of their staff is risible, according to ‘soft voters’ in focus groups.
An affair is generally a sign things aren’t right with someone’s relationship. It occurs when one person sees an alternative relationship as a better way to meet their needs than their existing one.
Barnaby Joyce had a long history of opposing climate action. His successor Michael McCormack seems to think the same way, despite climate being a growing threat to the Nationals’ rural voters.