Speaking to Seven’s Sunrise this morning, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce declined to answer whether he planned to jump ship to One Nation after announcing he would be stepping away from the National Party last week.
“I’m not going to stand for New England again… as regards to everything else, I do think there has been a breakdown of the relationship,” he said.
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When asked whether he had plans to join One Nation, he said, “I haven’t actually left [the Nationals] yet, I’ve barely resigned. I haven’t joined One Nation, and I mean, I’m not going to be, I’m not going to be salami-sliced here.”
Joyce did however confirm he had spoken with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson over the weekend.
His decision not to contest New England for another party, or as an independent candidate, has fuelled speculation he is considering a move into the Senate, which would give him a national platform to campaign.
Hanson wants Joyce to join her party, which she believes is a better fit for him than the Nationals he once led. Joyce previously complained of being relegated to the “far corners” of the backbench.
This masthead broke the news on Friday that Joyce was in advanced talks with Hanson about a switch.
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