Barnaby Joyce will skip a key meeting with his National Party colleagues as the former party leader’s future remains up in the air.
Parliament kicks off its second-last sitting block for the year on Monday, and while Mr Joyce’s defection to One Nation remains a seemingly likely outcome, the former party leader retains his National membership.
That membership is not enough for him to join a party room meeting before heading into the parliamentary chamber though.
On Monday morning, he confirmed he would not be in the party meeting.
“I am sitting with the National Party in question time, but as I said, if you believe in net zero, I can’t be part of it,” he told Seven’s Sunrise.
“Net zero’s just doing too much damage to Australia, for the benefit of a very select, very affluent small group of people who are just creaming the system at the expense of pensioners and poor people, and it’s got to stop.”
Away from the live cross with Channel 7, Mr Joyce told Canberra reporters he was willing to meet the One Nation leader.
“I’ll meet with Pauline Hanson. I’ve met with Pauline Hanson before,” he said.
“I mean, this is a free country. You’re allowed to actually meet other people.”
Mr Joyce did provide some clarity on his next move though.
“There is one thing I will rule out. I will not sit as an independent,” he said.
“I’m not willing to put a timeline on it. I haven’t joined One Nation, I’m still in the National Party, and, no, talk to me in the future about that.”
The Nationals meeting, where MPs and staff discuss policy and tactics, is scheduled for 10.30am.
Monday’s meeting is touted as particularly important, as the group will receive work from senators Matt Canavan and Ross Cadell on energy policy that is expected to recommend the party dump support for net-zero emissions targets.
https://thewest.com.au/business/free-country-barnaby-snubs-nats-party-room-meeting-open-to-one-nation-meeting-c-20480494
