The appointment of ministerial advisers is based on a party-political network of patronage, where the primary consideration is loyalty to the political party – not merit.
Barry O'Sullivan’s strong defence came as Malcolm Turnbull was forced in parliament to express his confidence in Barnaby Joyce.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Barry O'Sullivan has declared that Barnaby Joyce remains a big asset to the Nationals despite the sharp grassroots reaction to his affair with his former staffer.
Malcolm Turnbull last week tried to keep away from the Barnaby Joyce matter by saying it was private.
Dan Peled/AAP
Malcolm Turnbull’s reshuffled cabinet has five new faces, but one of the Nationals’ best performers has been unceremoniously dumped by his party leader.
Bridget McKenzie beat several other candidates in the race for the Nationals’ deputy leadership.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Laws passed by MPs while under a citizenship cloud are unlikely to be contested; decisions made by ministers after doubts about their dual citizenship was announced are more complicated matters.
Barnaby Joyce pointed out sharply that the government’s survival in 2016 had been due to the Nationals’ good performance.
Perry Duffin/AAP
A northern New South Wales bookmaker has got it about right on the New England byelection. “Barnaby will be a shorter price than Winx,” he told a National. “And the only one who could beat Barnaby is Winx…
George Brandis said the government was looking very carefully at the question of the validity of the former ministers’ decisions.
Lukas Coch/AAP