Barnaby Joyce vows to QUIT the National Party and move to the crossbench if four colleagues publicly declare they’ve lost faith in him
- Mr Joyce has called on Nationals colleagues to ‘get out from behind the shrubs’
- He said he would quit if four other members publicly said they wanted him to go
- Ex-deputy leader has controversially opposed new law to decriminalise abortion
- ‘If we can get four at a press conference, then I will go,’ the MP said on Thursday
Former Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has sensationally threatened to quit the National Party if four of his colleagues declare publicly they want him expelled.
Mr Joyce has reportedly come under pressure within his party to resign over his opposition to New South Wales’ proposed law to decriminalise abortion.
He spoke at an anti-abortion rally in Sydney on Tuesday, describing one part of the bill as ‘not a reflection of a civilised society’.
Former deputy leader Barnaby Joyce (pictured) has sensationally threatened to quit the National Party if four of his colleagues declare publicly they want him expelled
His stance on the controversial legislation led to a Nationals party room meeting on Tuesday, sources said, where other party members discussed having him ousted from the party.
Mr Joyce is a federal MP, and does not have a vote in New South Wales Parliament on the bill.
But speaking to 7 News on Thursday, he called for his detractors to ‘get out from behind the shrubs’.
‘If we can get four (other Nationals members) at a press conference to say [they want me to resign], then I will resign,’ he said.
‘Let’s get out from behind the shrubs and say it publicly.’
The reported movement to oust the ex-deputy leader comes amid public backlash to Mr Joyce sending robocalls to New South Wales residents opposing the proposed law.
Mr Joyce is a federal MP, and does not have a vote in New South Wales Parliament on the bill (pictured with partner Vikki Campion)
‘Barnaby Joyce here. I’m calling on behalf of the Foundation for Human Development about the abortion bill in the NSW parliament,’ the recording says.
‘This allows sex selective abortions. It legalises abortions for any reason right up until the day of birth.’
Joyce gained national notoriety when it was uncovered he was having an affair with his staffer Vikki Campion.
‘(Mr Joyce) is entitled to question the validity of a marijuana and its potential benefits with his cynicism based on wares proffered by snake oil salesmen in the past which promise unreasonable expectations to the vulnerable,’ a spokesperson said
The Reproductive Healthcare Reform Bill 2019, a private members bill, will be introduced to NSW parliament this week by independent MP Alex Greenwich.
It would allow for terminations on request for women up to 22 weeks of pregnancy.
After this time, terminations would be lawful if two doctors believe it should be performed in light of future physical, social and psychological circumstances.