RK Crosby is right to swat away the breathless nonsense about some grand “Joyce for PM” masterplan in her New England Times piece, “Conspiracy theory of Joyce for PM gains momentum” (Feb 5, 2026). But while the theory is laughable, the conduct isn’t.
What Joyce has actually done is far more straightforward — and far more damaging. He has walked away from the party New England voters elected him under and rebranded himself as a One Nation frontman. That’s not strategy. That’s opportunism. It’s a politician clinging to relevance by jumping into the loudest vehicle available. Even now, he frames his future in terms of personal positioning rather than service, saying his “plan” is to run for the NSW Senate but that he “doesn’t want to rule things out” — the language of a man shopping for his next gig, not one focused on delivering for the electorate he’s supposed to represent.
The hypocrisy is breathtaking. Joyce spent years denigrating One Nation and Pauline Hanson as political wreckers — warning voters about their lack of seriousness, their culture-war theatrics and their habit of blowing things up without offering solutions. He dismissed them as unserious, unfit for government and corrosive to the national interest. Now, apparently, they are fit company. The only thing that has changed is Joyce’s own career prospects.
For decades, Joyce sold himself to New England as a Nationals MP fighting for regional communities from within a party that — for all its flaws — sat inside a Coalition capable of winning government and shaping policy. Now he’s chosen to hitch his personal brand to a protest outfit that specialises in noise, grievance and permanent opposition. That is not “standing up for the bush”. It’s swapping influence for irrelevance — and calling it principle.
Let’s be blunt: One Nation is not a governing project — it’s a permanent protest vehicle. It is a megaphone for resentment. It does not have a coherent economic program for regional Australia. It does not have credible policies on energy, infrastructure, health, education or foreign relations. What it does have is outrage, culture wars and a leader whose own record shows contempt for the basics of parliamentary responsibility.
Pauline Hanson’s parliamentary attendance has been consistently appalling. She routinely misses large chunks of sitting weeks and is a regular no-show at Senate estimates — the very forums where governments are held to account and where regional issues can be pressed in detail. Even in the very first sitting week of the current parliament, she missed three days instead swanning around Adelaide promoting Cory Bernardi of all people — a political ‘Lazarus’ if there ever was one. That is the “model of leadership” Joyce has chosen to align himself with. Not turning up to do the work is not rebellious. It is negligent.
And this is where Joyce’s decision becomes indefensible for the people of New England.
He wasn’t elected to be a travelling salesman for Pauline Hanson. He was elected to deliver outcomes for his electorate. By defecting to One Nation, he has chosen spectacle over service. He has deliberately weakened his own capacity to achieve anything tangible for his constituents. You don’t improve roads, hospitals, telecommunications or regional jobs by shouting from the sidelines. You do it by being in a party that can actually negotiate, legislate and govern.
The irony is brutal. Joyce built his career railing against “Canberra games”. Yet this is the most Canberra game of all: torching your own credibility to stay in the headlines.
As for the Prime Ministerial fantasy? The only people seriously entertaining it are those who confuse noise with competence. Joyce couldn’t hold his own party together when he led it. He left behind division, instability and a trail of burnt relationships. The idea that he is now some unifying national figure-in-waiting would be funny if it weren’t so insulting to voters’ intelligence.
New England should see this for what it is: not bravery, not principle, not a fresh vision for the region — but a political midlife crisis played out on the national stage.
Voting for Joyce federally as a One Nation candidate would not be a protest vote. It would be a vote to deliberately downgrade your own representation. It would mean choosing noise over outcomes, grievance over governance, and personal ego over regional interests.
New England deserves better than being used as a backdrop for Barnaby Joyce’s next act.
Denise McHugh is an experienced educator in Tamworth. She is Chair of the NSW ALP Education and Skills Committee and Deputy President of the Independent Education Union (IEU).
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He should resign from the House of Reps so the voters in New England can choose a replacement at a bi-election.
Can someone take down the sign on the New England highway or paint over it, it makes me angry everytime I drive past it.
Andrew Fenwick his Tenterfield office still bears the Nats livery
Jenny Myers while they are at it take down the yes vote signs as well
I love Denise’s strong and rational views they make so much sense to me. I long for a member of parliament for the New England electorate that can make things happen for the good people who live here. The disgraceful man currently in this role has never been able to do this. Let’s see some new candidates who might be able to support our electorate. Joyce should have resigned and should do so now. Thank you Denise for making it so clear.
I think this article is well considered and articulated very well.
The fact he’s supposed to represent our area is embarrassing
Matthew Zell so patronising. I don’t owe you an explanation for anything, but I can think of a few things. That make him an embarrassment
Being embroiled in the water buy back scandal all those years ago, his public affair that he participated in, while working on our dime, being sloshed in public, doing nothing to get more infrastructure built, not advocating for doctors or police….. need I go on?
Stuart Galloway no need for a Bi Election when politicians jump ship. They should not jump ship without the support of their electorate. Barny is still the Member for New England however signs with any reference to the Nationals should be removed ASAP.
O N will not gain many if any lower house seats however the Senate will be a different story. They only need a small % of votes to get in. The reason Barnaby is returning to the Senate. No matter how easily Bills get passed in the Lower House the Senate will be extremely hard. O N will have the last say on everything. Over 90% of the time they vote with the LNP.
Labor might as well be in a Hung Parliament.
Well put Denise. Love your style in calling out Barnaby. Mid-life crisis or sheer petulance!
The article is so tendentious that I dismiss it. The voters will decide in a disruption to our political order, who New England will elect. Many politicians who were elected under a party banner and then rejected them is not new. Tony Windsor an example.
Barnaby never ever gave a stuff about his constituents in New England unless they came from Tamworth
This clown will loose his seat
Adrian Shortt I read the article and there was not one word in it that could be described as “left”. The article focussed wholly on the contrary and inconsistent and.oppprtunistic behaviour of Barnaby Joyce in joining up with the ridiculous One Nation bandwagon.
But when you are so brainwashed you just parrot the words of your mind controlling masters.
“The rise of pauline ” 🤣🤣🤣🤣 thats hilarious.
How many more mid life crises can we expect??
Why aren’t politicians who don’t show up for parliamentary sittings held accountable and have wages deducted for non attendance ? The ordinary worker who holds down a job can’t act like that without consequences. 😡
Joyce is self serving and does nothing for New England. The seat is just a convenient vehicle for his personal ambition. New England elected a National and not One Nation. He should do the right thing and resign but sadly unlikely. He enjoys being Pauline’s man and travelling on Gina’s plane.
Hard to argue against what she says. If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck……
I am deeply ashamed to have our representative is One Nation. Racism is disgusting. I feel sick when I look into the faces of immigrants who have helped our community. Our aged care workers, doctors and Baida workers are valued and needed.
Jason Townsend one nation will give us no nation wake up
I said this right at the start that his New England voters would not be happy with his defection to a Party that they did npt Vote him into. His dereliction of resonsibility to the New Englanders is sppectacular and will reflect itsel at the next election.
Regardless of our views on this debacle, I am aware, and saddened, that Labor will probably be in power till I die. While your article factually sets out the present situation, I think it misunderstands the utter frustration of cornered, anti-government voters, simply labeling them a protest vote, with One Nation the “protest vehicle”. Who’s to say what affiliation or coalition may, in time, result from it. As seen globally it is clear, rightly or wrongly, traditional politics are being challenged as “no longer fit for purpose.’ Australia cannot and will not survive another decade of un challenged Labor, it’s largesse and polarizing ideologies, hence the pushback of the presently impotent, status quo. What IS happening is “change”, and as once questioned, “Is change good or bad”? was answered, “change is.”
Brian Moore you are correct to label One Nation a protest vehicle under estimates those voters that sit on the fringe of society. In the past there was Menzies ‘Forgotten People’ or Howard’s ‘Battlers’ these voters changed elections. Yes Change is good the political landscape is changing the UK is a prime example with the rise of Reform UK
I think this is well written and I agree that people can make choices to change their parties
But what I don’t agree with is that they still can hold their seat in parliament when this is not what the constituents voted for
I believe a by election should have been attended to allow the people choose if they wanted Barnaby as their representative as one nation
Excellent article, and so true.
Stuart Galloway you are so spot on. Barnaby was elected to the NE as a national party representative.
His decision to jump ship to a party who he has consistently derided in the past should have resulted in a by election. It should be at his own expense given that it was his personal decision. But instead he is touting himself as if the electorate chose him as a ON candidate. That’s fraudulent at best
Political mid-life crisis? More like a political end of life directive. That someone who had two stints as deputy PM is now hanging off Pauline’s apron strings is hardly a stellar career arc.
Continuing with the same two party system is just banging your head against the wall and wondering why the pain won’t stop!
“the renewed chatter about One Nation as a plausible alternative government” is coming from non-Australian sources and is meant purely to destabilise stable democracies by having them ruled by dysfunctional political parties.
The US was easy to destabilise and install a useful idiot in the top job who could weaponise racism.
The UK was also easy to destabilise using Brexit and the inherent racism in England.
Now it’s Australia’s turn to have to deal with its own racist population.
It’s refreshing to read an article that presents the facts as they truly are. Since Joyce shifted to launch his new career with One Nation, all he has done is focus on attacking immigrants and immigration. Together with Hanson, they have perpetuated a false narrative. They should be aware that immigration statistics also encompass tourists, individuals with work visas, and university students. Those who take the time to research will find that these figures can’t simply be lumped together under immigration. The data that Hanson and Joyce cite is misleading, and they are well aware of it. Additionally, many forget that backpackers on working visas play a significant role in filling jobs, particularly on farms. Supporting One Nation ultimately harms the agricultural sector across Australia.
Too many people rely on social media for news and information but are receiving false and misleading news and information instead.
They’re are being played by the fringe elements of politics.
We all need to get our news from professional journalists, the simplistic solutions of social media don’t always stack up.
If you decide to change parties there needs to be a by election called immediately as many constituents would vote party not personality 🤷♂️
Under One Nation , Australia will be left as a racist , hateful nation that will like America incarcerate you if you enter as Gina and Hanson pick and choose who they want. Watch as Australia looses contracts and investment as well as military support.
Got him in one statement, I don’t believe they should be able to jump ship when their constituents voted them in under their original party.
A party that would never have got their vote.
Jump ship have a by-election and they’ll most likely lose their cushy lifestyle.
He pork barreled the APVMA to move to Armidale which was a complete disaster eventually costing tax payers millions and did nothing to improve efficiencies or effectiveness and now most are back in Canberra or working remotely anyway!
Colleen Nolan Truth hurts sometimes, regardless of where it is coming from.
How anyone that voted for the National party representation in New England is not angry at the Pickled Beetroot for jumping ship to One Notion is beyond comprehension.