Barnaby's drought envoy job a farce: Labor

Labor has suggested Barnaby Joyce was given a drought envoy role purely to stop him mounting a challenge for the Nationals leadership.

Mr Joyce has come under fire after it was revealed he never produced a final report, opting instead to text message updates to the prime minister.

"Barnaby Joyce's appointment was clearly a farce to keep him busy and stop him hunting down Michael McCormack," Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese told reporters in Bendigo on Tuesday.