Federal MP Barnaby Joyce has announced he will join One Nation, after leaving the National Party last month.
In a post to Facebook, Joyce said joining One Nation, founded by Pauline Hanson, was a “considered and serious decision”.
Hanson has confirmed Joyce will run for a seat representing NSW in the Senate at the next federal election, due in 2028.
Barnaby Joyce
Joyce has been the MP for New England, a seat that covers areas of northern NSW, since 2013.
He was previously a Senator for Queensland.
Joyce was the leader of the National Party from 2016 to 2018, but stood down after it was revealed he had a personal relationship with a former staffer.
He was a backbencher for the Nationals until last month. Joyce had previously confirmed he would not run for the seat of New England in 2028.
One Nation
Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.
I want to give $10 monthly to help TDA keep doing the news.
Your details:
Hanson founded One Nation in 1997. One Nation has four federal senators including Hanson.
One Nation’s policies include significantly reducing the number of people allowed to migrate to Australia each year, and limiting the number of countries whose citizens can move here.
The party’s website says it is “the only political party to question climate science,” and that it is in favour of Australia withdrawing from the Paris Agreement.
Reasons
Joyce said he had decided to move to One Nation because the party’s policies “put Australia first and centre.”
He criticised the current Government’s energy and immigration policies, and said he can’t effectively oppose them from the Nationals backbench.
Joyce will remain a member of the House of Reps (now representing One Nation) until the next election, when he will run as a Senator for NSW.
“I will let the voters be the ultimate arbiter of that decision,” Joyce said.
