Anthony Albanese demands Barnaby Joyce be sacked over explosive comment: ‘Completely unacceptable’

Anthony Albanese has called for Barnaby Joyce to be sacked for using a violent election metaphor in the wake of the assassination attempt against Donald Trump.

The former deputy prime minister had been speaking at an anti-wind farm rally at Lake Illawarra near Wollongong, in NSW, on Sunday.

He urged locals to vote down the offshore wind turbines, comparing a ballot paper to a bullet, and claimed their ‘greatest weapon’ was ‘to turn up in numbers’.

‘The bullet you have is a little piece of paper, it goes in the magazine called the voting box,’ Mr Joyce said.

‘It’s coming up. Get ready to load that magazine. Goodbye, Chris. Goodbye, Stephen. Goodbye, Albo.’

Mr Joyce had been referring to Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. 

On Monday, the Nationals MP was confronted by Sunrise host Natalie Barr over his choice of metaphor in light of the assassination attempt in the US on July 13. 

Mr Trump was delivering a speech at a Pennsylvania rally when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on him.

The former US president took a grazing shot to the ear before he was rushed off stage with blood on his face. Rally attendee Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed.

Mr Albanese demanded Opposition Leader Peter Dutton take immediate action against Mr Joyce.

‘That is completely unacceptable. Peter Dutton has had four reshuffles, he should have a fifth. Barnaby Joyce should go,’ he told Sky News.

‘This is the sort of language which has no place in any part of Australian society, let alone in public life.

‘And here you have a guy going to a rally calling for action. Using an analogy of guns, bullets and magazines.

‘What does this bloke have to do to lose his job?’ 

Mr Joyce came under fire from Barr earlier in the morning for his use of the metaphor. 

‘Barnaby, do we need to be using “bullet” in the lead-up to an election?’ the Sunrise host asked. 

Mr Joyce was at first defensive over his use of imagery.

‘The ballot paper is the weapon you have. It shouldn’t be a bullet, it should be a ballot paper and the ballot box,’ he responded.

He then went on a rant in which he compared wind turbines to dog poo.   

‘It is like saying the fertilising capacity and the beauty of dog turd on your lawn in the middle of the morning works as well,’ he said. 

‘And so wind towers are like dog turds in the ocean, dog turns in the environment — absolutely disgusting. Nobody wants them.’

But Barr pressed him further on his use of violent imagery.

‘But the language, using the word “bullet” — they’ve had an assassination attempt in the US — do you think it’s a good use of that word?’ she said.

Mr Trump (pictured) was delivering a speech at a Pennsylvania rally when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on him

Mr Joyce, appearing visibly frustrated, bit back before NDIS Minister Bill Shorten, who was also appearing on the program, also offered his criticism.

‘Barnaby obviously feels very passionately about wind towers,’ he said. 

‘But I think if he had his time again he shouldn’t be using the metaphor of bullets and magazines. There are enough words in the English language.

‘Barnaby, sometimes in politics we speak first and because our passions take over. 

‘Smartest call here, would be just to say apologise for using that metaphor because we’ve had the Donald Trump assassination attempt.’

Mr Joyce eventually gave in to the pressure and offered an apology.

‘Here we go,’ he said. 

‘I apologise for using that metaphor. I’ve done it on Sunrise.’

In 2018, Mr Joyce was sent a bullet and a threatening note by an environmentalist who was later handed a two-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of $4,000.

At the time of the incident, Mr Joyce said that it was ‘the sort of garbage we have to put up with (as politicians)’.

‘This is not the sort of politics we want in Australia,’ he added.