Nationals MP and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce says he’s ready to rule out recontesting the Nationals’ management, however dodged questions of occasion room discontent.
Reports emerged on the weekend of widening discontent with occasion chief David Littleproud, with the identical experiences suggesting Mr Joyce and former sources minister and Queensland MP Keith Pitt had been the frontrunners for any management problem.
According to The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Littleproud is going through inner criticism over his relationship with Liberal chief Peter Dutton and his remedy of employees.
He performed the rumours right down to a “couple of bruised egos” on Sunday, however mentioned he’d in the end cop any determination of the occasion room to take away him.
Appearing on Sunrise on Monday, Mr Joyce dominated out any risk of a management problem – earlier than lastly ruling himself out of any hypothetical spill.
Mr Joyce mentioned he hadn’t “made one call to one person asking for one vote” and claimed the journalist behind the unique story had by no means contacted him or his workplace.
“We’re not going to have a leadership challenge,” Mr Joyce mentioned.
“I’m not moving for a leadership challenge. You don’t deny it if it’s not going to happen.”
Asked if there was discontent among the many occasion over Mr Littleproud’s management, Mr Joyce mentioned he wouldn’t speak for each individual within the occasion room.
His panel mate, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek mentioned Mr Joyce had “completely avoided” the query earlier than placing it to him herself, asking: “Barnaby Joyce, are you prepared to rule out running for the leadership should there be a leadership challenge”.
Sounding exasperated, Mr Joyce responded: “There is not going to be a leadership challenge, so I’m prepared to rule it out”.
On Sunday, Mr Littleproud mentioned he would in the end settle for regardless of the occasion room determined.
“But while I’m the leader, I’m just trying to focus on my job about not just holding the government to account, but being constructive where I can,” he mentioned.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
