Politics overall has not been kind to Barnaby Joyce but he has made his bed and now must lie in it.
But he will not lie down…and neither does it appear that he will defect to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party. Rather it appears, he will languish where he is; guaranteed of a secure financial position for the next two and a half years, with no political responsibilities.
As a now “free agent” he will be free to vent his spleen, taunt his electorate and the party that propelled him to infamous political fame, with uncertainty, indecision and speculation.
Twelve years employed at taxpayers expense and what have we got from our investment in Barnaby Joyce? For now his political reputation cannot sink much lower.
Despite his advocacy, Joyce’s career has not been without its controversies. He has faced scrutiny, and hypocrisy, over his stances on various social issues, including same-sex marriage, gender equity and climate change. A stench of corruption seems to waft behind him like the decomposed fish in the dried-up riverbed remains of his water rights management policies.
He has the talent of saying ‘stuff’ and sounding genuine, that courses through the veins of many a politician and political influencer such as Gina Reinhart who reportedly contributed $700,000 to Barnaby’s 2013 election campaign and personally rewarded him with a $40,000 cheque for his services to “agriculture”[?].
Barnaby leaves us with a legacy of getting into drunken brawls and “poor judgement” (all in the spirit of selling his book, which can now be found in the clearance bins of most reputable bookshops), a parliamentary ”bonk ban” in his honour and allegations of bum groping, sexual harassment and rorts for his mates and himself.
During his time as Agriculture Minister, Joyce personally oversaw the mismanagement of the Murray-Darling Basin, ensuring National Party donors were winners and the waterways…. well, the dead fish tell that story.
Back in 2005, Joyce added to his superannuation portfolio and bought two properties in the Pilliga, in the middle of land on which Eastern Star Gas planned to develop 1,100 coal seam gas wells.
He did not declare the landholding when the Coalition passed an inland rail development, which would conveniently travel by his properties. Joyce reluctantly agreed to sell the properties in 2013 but did not do so until 2018, when forced to fund his divorce settlement from another of his sad breakdowns in his relationships.
Perhaps the most telling legacy of this not so honourable Member for New England is his admission on his return to the office of Deputy Prime Minister following his forced resignation: “I don’t want the government any more in my life. I’m sick of the government being in my life.”
Never the less, for now and the next two and a half years, Barnaby appears to be determined to get his “pound of flesh” at New England’s expense.
Got something on your mind? Go on then, engage. Submit your opinion piece, letter to the editor, or Quick Word now.
I’d like to see a list of his alleged accomplishments for the people of New England. His fans say he’s done wonders for the community but never specify anything.
Eve Sinton 💯%
Allan Magann another one that has done nothing in his life, to help the electorate or the community, only whinge about the people that do. Labor indoctrinated, grand parents and parents voted Labor so you have to. You have a brain use it,but you prefer the government to do that for you. Enjoy your rations.
Eve Sinton He got a drive-through post box in Armidale. That’s literally it.
He does have an office in Tamworth but it doesn’t look like much happens there!
Eve Sinton so you spend everyday checking what is happening at his office, and you never give me what good things Albo has done, still waiting
Eve Sinton still waiting
Eve Sinton he helped stopped the forced amalgamation in our town and he’s now fighting against the involuntary acquisition of our prime farming land. He turns up to events and fundraisers, the last one we had he was helping out everywhere with everything that needed doing and cooking the bbq. I don’t care if he enjoys a beer at least he has his feet on the ground and common sense
Eve Sinton can you please specify what Albo has done for Australia, apart from financial ruin, lies, won’t tell the people who pay his wages what he is doing, over running us with immigrants while working families live in cars and tents. Power prices crippling us, cost living, unemployment up, inflation up, NOW TELL ME WHAT GOOD HE HAS DONE.
Marie Byrne Well said!
If we was’t popular with the electorate he would not win with such great margins, he has always worked hard for regional Australia and the New England so your scathing comments are not called for.
Jude Costello The Nationals could put an Akubra on a cattle dog and it would win in New England.
Aaron Schmitzer They had an independent for many years so that statement is rot
Virginia Liddle An Independent who had sought National Party preselection, with no National Party opposition, who everyone assumed was aligned with the National Party until he voted with Julia Gillard and retired because it was untenable to run again in the electorate with that baggage.
Aaron Schmitzer still an independent who defeated any nationals who challenged him
Virginia Liddle There weren’t any. Wise up.
Aaron Schmitzer I think a fellow called StClair had a go
Aaron Schmitzer what would you know arsehole, where do you live in the city, the people in the New England are good hardworking decent people, you are a bottom feeding parasite, that will make a great communist, won’t have to think for yourself, decide what to do, just go to work, and receive your rations.
Aaron Schmitzer SO?
Virginia Liddle An independent that was a former Nat.
Who supported the coalition at state level before moving on to federal and at that time seemed like just a Nats lite version.
His statement isn’t rot, the seat is rarely seriously contested by Labor, and an independent that walks and talks like a Nat stood a good chance of winning it in the 90’s.
Virginia Liddle yes windsor di a term and achieved motr than joyce. Hecgot thecalec up and runningbin tamworth what haschas barnaby done rathercthan talk
Jim Ridley The independent that walks and talks like a Nat had no chanceof beating Barnaby in the 90’s. He was our member and even when he had the balance of power after siding with the Gillard Goverment, did “bugger all” for New England.
So after that statement do you not remember Windsor going us a labor government with his deciding vote at least bar any represents the electorate who elected him.
Aaron Schmitzer Cattle dogs are smart. They’d never join the national party.
Jude Costello you are kidding. Right?
Jacqui Kearney Crouch not at all
Jude Costello just downright rude. Lets hope Barnaby sees it.
Jude Costello The bloke is a complete drongo
Jude Costello i agree, he has backed our town time and time again and fought hard for us. Who cares if he has a beer at least he is on the ground with common sense
Rebecca Taiki barnaby and common sense do not go together in same sentance
Rebecca Taiki but there’s more to his electorate than your town. He’s done zip for my town, and refuses to speak with me not even knowing about the topic with which I wish to address. I’ve never spoken to him before. He doesn’t know me or my family who have over 70 years of public service. How is that fair and equal representation?
Rebecca Taiki He’s certainly been on the ground – in Canberra. Well, lying on the footpath, anyway, swearing into his phone. But once again, the party covered for him and it all blew over. Politics has actually been very kind to Joyce.
Jude Costello any nat member would high votes there the guy shouldcretire
Jude Costello LOl 😆 he has done zip
Jude Costello the Nats could have stood a pumpkin in New England and won
Jude Costello I agree Jude 👍
Jude Costello It’s not that he is popular, the electorate is traditionally one that votes for the National party. As the Nationals Party candidate, he was almost guaranteed to be elected to the seat, because people in this area tend to vote for the party, not the candidate.
Jude Costello how has he worked hard
I’d say it’s given him the kindness of very significant taxpayer income, leave and benefits with little clear benefit to constituents or the wider country.
David Lemmo put your name up for election and see how you go😠😡
If he believed his own BS he’d run for the House with his new party. But because he doesn’t, he’ll see out his days in the senate like so many others who care only about their salary and not about the country.
Stand aside so we can have a by-election and, maybe, get someone who can think of others, not just themselves!
Chris Wayling and what is that proposal going to cost us? They should be required to serve their full term, unless they have illness. If they stand down otherwise, they should pay full costs for another election instead of the taxpayers.
Chris Wayling yeah right 😜
Chris Wayling he will do his job, until the next election, and he will do it well, but arseholes like you think you know better. How much have you done for the electorate or your community, let’s hear it all.
This is how the press dabble in destruction
“Taunt his electorate” – do you meant the people that vote him in by huge numbers every election? And all of the communities of the New England fighting the non-renewables disaster on which Barnaby has been heroic? Pull you heads in! And the Coalition is not working for any of us – it is dead, buried and about to be cremated.
Karen Fox hear,hear!👌
I’m so tired of the left, right or centre. Sadly they are NOT allowed to expose Agenda 30!
Politicians know exactly what’s going on!
Don’t they realise they are ALL Gophers for the Evil at the Top of the Pyramid!!!
Well said.👌👍👏
🤮
Straight to the pub Barnaby where you can be usefull
The impact of Barnaby’s departure will have a significant effect, not just locally, but also in Canberra. I suspect there are pubs and bottle shops in Canberra that have employed staff that will now need to be let go due to the reduced turnover in Barnaby’s absence.
🤣
Mark Kneen Same with Bob Hawke ????
He’s quit so he needs to go asap
I agree
He certainly left a mark in Canberra…..on the pavement.
Janet Davidson it must be wonderful to be perfect
Julie Keogh When you hold high public office, you need to be slightly more perfect than Joyce has exhibited.
Janet Davidson nasty
Janet Davidson did you witness of what so called happened
Media reporters should be held accountable for airing their personal hate
Darren Morrison Engage is our opinion hub. This isn’t written by a reporter, it’s written by your neighbour. If you want to put your opinion up on the site, on any subject, you can – just go to https://engage.netimes.com.au/submit/
What part wasnt true
Darren Morrison Darren, it’s an opinion piece submitted by a reader! You can put one in too, if you want to. Heavens above!
He’s nothing but a grub. Any man that walks into a toilet that’s closed for cleaning at Tamworth airport and flops his unemployed out in front of female cleaners has no respect for anybody but his self entitled self. Nothing but a grub.
I’m frustrated too with what is happening in our country. I like Barnaby, he acts with common sense and love for Australia 🇦🇺
Not everyone likes everyone, but Barnaby is unique and can be criticised. I imagine that there would be many people who like Barnaby. Genuine Australians!
I would like to have a beer with Barnaby!✅
Do what you need to do Barnaby very hard to have a voice when relegated to back bench
What ever he decides is up to him.
But i will be voting for Pauline Hanson.
Barnaby no doubt has a colourful past. However, his colourful past means that he has prime knowledge of politics and the press. The press is the most dangerous thing for Australia besides Albo. The press only tell their version of any story, seldom the facts. I don’t know Barnaby, but I’ve usually enjoyed his perspectives and agree with his comments. Even if he has 2 years to run, he will be involved in constructive activities. I trust Barnaby but I don’t trust some of the others, in a similar position.
You are now free Barnaby to drive action and change. I enjoyed your interview with that hateful Sarah on ABC. I don’t like the left wing woke New England Times!✅✅🙏👍
Brian Phillis We are getting a bit tired of people calling us left wing and woke while commenting on opinion pieces penned by their neighbours. If you want to submit an opinion piece on Engage, go ahead, no one is stopping you.
Brian Phillis Actually they have indicated this is an opinion post sent in by a reader.
The first sentence says on Engage Now, which is their letters to the editor column.
Brian Phillis all of the content on Engage is comment and opinion. We put it entirely on a different site so their could be no confusion. It’s even a different colour.
Brian Phillis Barnaby is as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike atm and will be in the future.
Greg Hurcum Are you saying that Barnaby Joyce is right-wing? Also, is an opinion piece in a newspaper bullying, or just an opinion you don’t hold?
He stated on TV yesterday that down south.. Muswellbrook doesn’t need TAFE’s but a Nuclear Power Station…… IT’S HAD EARTH TREMORS GALORE…. He’s not all there
Good for him, the party machines are killing this country. I bet there’s more than a few nervous Nellie’s in the media and politics at the moment. As a loose agent who doesn’t need to follow the Canberra rules, well!
If he’s resigning from the National Party, he should resign altogether, because he’s not entitled to the remaining 2.5 years of remuneration, which could offset a bi-election to replace him.
Jenny Dyson he’s not resigning from the Nationals.
Jenny Dyson I know how irritating this can be.
However,one of the great strengths of our constitution is that members are elected as individuals;not as party representatives.
After each election the House should have a formal vote for Prime Minister;this being a reminder of where power is derived .
What a one sided and poorly researched article. Love him or hate him, a more dedicated local member would be hard to find. He has done the right thing by announcing his retirement now and remaining in the position and not costing the country a mid term bi election. It gives all parties time to come up with a representative who may be able to work as hard for their constituents as Barnaby has. It’s a pity we don’t have more politicians who have the same conviction as he.
Richard Doyle it’s not a news story, it’s an opinion piece, and thus by definition one-sided. If you would like to submit an opinion piece or shorter comment you can, just go to https://engage.netimes.com.au/submit/
Did you read it and what part was true
Would you rather seat warmers like the majority of useless bastards sitting up there in Canberra pontificating??
Barnaby confines himself to oblivion.
there is an easy fix ,if a politician resigns from the party they are elected to, the seat automatically becomes vacant and a by election is to be held.
Rudy Dokter hasn’t resigned, just not running for new England next election, but things will change, this is a clever plot to shake up his party, and/Or move to much bigger agendas. He’s rightly hell bent on pushing to move away from net zero, so there’s momentum and strength building in this campaign.
One of a kind
Amazes me how people keep on about the past. Has done so much for electorate and very easy to talk to. Will always back him. Many other positions done wrong. Get a life
Barnaby always said he was not resigning, he would not be contesting his seat at next election, why everyone thought he was joining One Nation is beyond belief. Simple he is working for his constituents until the next election. What he decides to do then he will let us know.l closet to the time when he makes up his mind.
Barnaby hasn’t been kind to Barnaby
Well he was smart enough to get us to pay his child maintance & walk off with his ill goten gains for doung nothing so I guess more fool us but that’s the LNP they never do anything except flease the system.
Politics not kind to him? He made it to the second highest position you can in politics, Deputy Prime minister, for a buffoon that’s not bad, imagine if he actually had a brain!
Barnaby is an Aussie helloves his people and he loves his country his beliefs. are what most. Aussies want and that’s a fair go we are not listed to buy labour greens or libs they need to listen to our people. shame
He’s got more worthwhile to say than anyone currently in government and he genuinely loves to represent his country. He will be sadly missed and Australia will be worse for his departure.
So he’s returning to the way he was as a Senator?
The NET writer isn’t subtle about where you sit politically do you? Makes you more of a commentator & player than serious journalist. If you want to be a participant stand for election but until then your “stories” can’t be taken seriously.
Richard Cerveny It is an opinion piece. Under the title you will find the author’s name and their professions. Their opinion is as valid as yours and mine. Their opinion focuses on an individual MP’s behaviour and policy, who knows where they sit politically. It could have been written by anyone sitting anywhere on the political spectrum. There are voters who do not vote with a ‘tribe’, and focus on other things like ethics and policy. And the best party members are the ones who have the guts to criticise their own party when needed … sorta like Joyce has eh.
Care NO!
Good on you Barnaby. The Nationals are not the party they were under John McEwen. Keep the Spot Light Full On McCormack who has destroyed our National Party
10 gallon hat on a 2 pint head..
Love your Labor lite pandering. He may act like a goose at times but he is speaking out truth.
A man with no principles. He will bludge on the taxpayers for the next two and a half years.
Steve Coxhead It is an opinion piece. It is an opinion on Barnaby Joyce, not on anyone else. As you have quite clearly demonstrated in your comment, our democracy allows for people to have differing opinions. You have not noted any of the slander you are claiming exists, or may exist. You stated there are lies, please let us all know what the lies are. This is really important because none of us should be misinformed. You appear to be threatening the New England Times (only) with the possibility of civil action.
Whoever wrote the article obviously does not know Barnaby, has no understanding of how the party system of government works and is giving an opinion with lack of knowledge!
Dianne Hockey Why don’t you submit an opinion piece to the New England Times? That’s what the author of this opinion piece did.
Well a good politician gets the best advice he can from the best experts in their field and uses that information to make the lives of his constituents better. Unfortunately for Barnaby, Gina is only an expert on coal and gas and doesn’t care about Barnabys constituents.
I heard his buying a bakery in Ballina.
He made it his way the only thing he didn’t do much for anyone else
Pretty much useless like 99 percent of politicians
Hes told it how it is . Poeple need to understand the government are scaming australians.