Barnaby Joyce continues to dangle potential One Nation switch
Rebel Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has said he was keeping open a potential switch to One Nation.
The former deputy prime minister was speaking on Today this morning as the National and Liberal parties continue to struggle over a united policy on net zero carbon emissions.
For weeks, there has been speculation Joyce will defect to Pauline Hanson's One Nation since he announced he would not recontest his New England seat in NSW at the next election and cited policy differences with the Nationals Party.
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce is keeping open a potential switch to One Nation. (Photo: Alex Ellinghausen) Alex Ellinghausen
Joyce continued to keep the option of switching open, hinting it gave him stronger leverage.
"I keep the cards close to my chest ... because when you're on the backbench, that's all you got," he said.
The ex Nationals leader said he was happy with the part he played in convincing the party to abandon its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, announced last Sunday.
Joyce said he had no regrets about his role in what has become a major policy split for the Coalition, saying energy policy had contributed to its electoral defeat in May.
"We had a policy at the last election that supported net zero and we got our electoral backside handed to us on a plate."
The Nationals party has abandoned its pledge on net zero carbon emissions. Adobe Stock
Liberal MPs have been holding meetings to form a united position on energy and net zero emissions.
The leadership of Sussan Ley remains under scrutiny as she tries to keep the party united in the face of dire polling numbers.
A poll released this week revealed voters are abandoning the Coaltion, with support for embattled Ley crashing.
The primary vote for the Coalition has slumped to 24 per cent, while Labor is at 36 per cent, according to a Newspoll published in The Australian.
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