In a surprising political development, former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has indicated he may reverse his decision to abandon his New England seat for a Senate position, stating he would reconsider “if the party determines we need to have a crack.” The One Nation convert, who left the Nationals for the right-wing populist party late last year, made these remarks during a spirited Sky News interview where he vigorously defended his new party’s governing potential.
Joyce’s original plan to transition to the Senate is facing increased scrutiny as One Nation experiences rising poll numbers. Currently lacking representation in the lower house—where government is formed—One Nation’s parliamentary strategy remains uncertain. During the interview, Joyce articulated his flexibility: “I’ve made a statement that I’m going to run for the Senate. If circumstances change as we get closer, where the party determines that what we need is for me to have a crack at a lower house seat, that’s what I’ll try.”
The exchange grew heated when host Laura Jayes repeated One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s assertion that the party would never form government. Joyce challenged this perspective as “conceited,” emphasizing that “the Australian people should make that decision” regarding electoral outcomes.
In a notable admission, Joyce revealed that One Nation frequently aligns philosophically with new Nationals leader Matt Canavan, particularly on energy policy including support for new coal-fired power stations. This ideological proximity became subject to humorous speculation when Joyce addressed reports of an errant “love letter” to Canavan, joking about their shared accommodation and referencing the film Brokeback Mountain with the remark: “I hope it was a mistake because I was sleeping in the same room as him. But, you know, it’s legal these days.”
Responding to Joyce’s comments, Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie suggested Joyce was “obviously feeling the threat” from Canavan’s leadership. She highlighted Canavan’s “huge intellectual capacity” and ability to engage on complex issues like energy and resources. McKenzie further questioned One Nation’s strategy of targeting Coalition seats rather than Labor positions, noting that such an approach would ultimately maintain Anthony Albanese’s premiership.