‍DR ANNE WEBSTER MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TERRITORIES
SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MALLEE

Topics: Barnaby Joyce's decision to quit the National Party - Joyce's decision as Deputy PM to sign up for Net Zero - by-election in New England

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Kenny

Now with the Shadow Minister for regional development, Anne Webster, joining us live from Canberra. Thanks for joining us, Anne. You must be very disappointed as a National that a former leader and one as prominent as Barnaby Joyce has quit the party.

Webster

Well, I am actually Chris. It is really disappointing. The Nationals have stood together shoulder to shoulder, literally, as we have worked through the process of developing policy to walk away from net zero, that was something that Barnaby has done a lot of talking about, but he wasn't part of that discussion. He wasn't part of the party room coming to the position that we have now looking at cheaper, better and fairer energy policy moving forward, and energy prices, I might say, given what the Labor government are doing. So it was Barnaby, as deputy leader at the time who brought in net zero … and very persuasive,  he was. And now, well, he's not going to be part of the journey. He will be part of … maybe, we don't know, a protest party. He's not spoken to us to the extent that we know exactly what motivates him here.

Kenny

I mean, obviously it's not a policy argument, as you say, he's, he's argued every position on net zero, and in the end, the party is now in the position that he advocates. So he's got the policy outcome he wants, surely, though he talks about being isolated up on the backbench, not being used by the party, isolated by the current leadership, presumably. So we can, we can only assume this is about his political ambition. He thinks that The Nationals have no further use for him.

Webster

Well, I, you know, I can't speak for Barnaby, obviously, but the reality is, positions in ministry are limited. It is a deeply honouring role to be given, to be asked to stand as, even as a shadow minister, as I am, with three portfolios. The fact is that he has been deputy leader, sorry, Deputy Prime Minister. And likewise, Michael McCormack for that matter, like … it's got to be very difficult when you've led the party and you've done an amazing job to then be moved aside to allow others to have a go. That is the nature of our democracy as well. And I think, you know, Michael has taken a mature approach. I know it was tough, and I am really grateful myself to be able to have the opportunities that I do now, to work on sound policy, to move forward. It's just not available for everyone.

Kenny

But it doesn't sound like David Littleproud, the current leader, did much to keep Barnaby on board. Barnaby says that since he announced he would step out of The Nationals party room, he's only had a 90 second phone call with David littleproud. Do you think your own leader was, perhaps, happy to let Barnaby go, rather than to try and talk him into staying?

Webster

Look, I think I can't conjecture about, you know, phone calls and what has happened, what hasn't happened. I have seen David Littleproud's media release this afternoon, which is stating that he is really disappointed that Barnaby had asked for space and to be respected in having space to consider his position when he was not put back into the shadow cabinet. David, from what he wrote in his media release, respected Barnaby. Now Barnaby has, you know, chosen another pathway. And I think those who have spoken with Barnaby and tried to encourage him to stay. Matt Canavan and Colin Boyce and Michael McCormack, they haven't. And let's face it, Matt Canavan was very close to Barnaby, having been his CoS in the past, Sorry, Chief of Staff in the past. The reality is that Barnaby is making a choice. I'm really disappointed. I think the party is disappointed.

Kenny

Sure you're disappointed, but this is going to do damage, right? I mean, you're already bleeding a lot of votes to One Nation. We've seen that in the polls of recent months, and with Barnaby Joyce going to One Nation as well as we expect him to do, you can expect that trend to be amplified.

Webster

Well, I certainly hope not. The One Nation party is a party of protest. We are a party of government. That is what we are aiming for. We have developed strong policy, and we will continue to develop strong policy, whether it is regarding energy, whether it's regarding health, even whether it's regarding regional development, the Regional Australia Future Fund, divestiture powers. There are things that we have fought strongly for, including lifting the moratorium on nuclear, the Voice we led in those things. These are things that we are very proud of, without being cocky and we will continue to fight together. I think we have an excellent Nationals team, and we are listening to our regional communities, and we will absolutely keep fighting for our regional communities. That is our job. And we're working together in a sound way, in a respectful way and in a robust way, because that's what our people would expect.

Kenny

Do you think Barnaby should resign his seat, given he was elected as a Nat and now he's resigned from the party?

Webster

Well, I found it interesting that nobody's asked him today whether he's going to do that and to set up a by-election. I haven't heard any rumours. I don't know anything. I'm certainly not on the inside of any of those conversations. Perhaps, you know, Barnaby is the best one to ask about that. But I think, you know, New England, they voted for - and people who supported Barnaby voted and supported him to become - a Nationals member again, to return as a Nationals member. So what goes on from here? Chris, it'll be it'll be interesting.

Kenny

We'll see. Thanks for joining us. Anne. Anne Webster there, who is the Shadow Minister for Regional Development and the Member for Mallee there in western Victoria.

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