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I’m not going anywhere: Barnaby hits back

Barnaby Joyce has hit back at attempts to blast him out of federal parliament, insisting he will contest the next election.

Jun 05, 2018, updated Jun 05, 2018
Photo: AAP/Lukas Coch

Photo: AAP/Lukas Coch

“Of course I am running again – the first people I would tell if I wasn’t would be the electorate,” he told the ABC today.

“I’m still working for New England, I’m having meetings in the electorate today.”

Joyce’s comments came after Nationals elder statesman John Anderson, who served as deputy to John Howard, urged him to consider leaving politics for the sake of his family.

“I would gently encourage Barnaby and Vikki to think very carefully about (Sebastian’s) best interests, to the point of considering whether they are properly served while his father is in public life,” Anderson told The Australian.

“Barnaby himself told us in the interview how tough it is to maintain a stable family environment when you are a member of federal parliament.”

Queensland Nationals MP Ken O’Dowd also urged his former party leader to make a “crucial decision” and consider his political future ahead of the next election.

“I think it’s very important for the people of Tamworth and New England that they know they’ve got someone there who is going to be in there fighting for them,” O’Dowd told ABC radio.

“Over to you, Barnaby, and best of luck with whatever you decide.”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the saga had now been “discussed to death” and he had nothing to add.

“My view about it is that it’s a personal matter now … I think we should just let [Barnaby Joyce] and Vikki Campion get on with their lives.”

Some Nationals colleagues have declared their ongoing support for Mr Joyce following the paid television interview about his affair and baby with former staffer Vikki Campion.

But others are angry at the former Nationals leader for accusing “scum of the Earth” people in conservative ranks of trying to pressure his partner to terminate her pregnancy.

Joyce’s fate will ultimately be in the hands of New England pre-selectors.

“It will be ultimately those Nationals preselectors in New England and the electors of New England that will pass their judgment,” another former party leader Tim Fischer said.

“He has a lot of bridge-building to do and he knows that.”

– AAP

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