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Barnaby Joyce: Australia PM's remarks 'inept', deputy says | Barnaby Joyce: Australia PM's remarks 'inept', deputy says |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Australian Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce has sharply criticised the nation's leader, Malcolm Turnbull, in an escalation of tensions that have rocked the government. | Australian Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce has sharply criticised the nation's leader, Malcolm Turnbull, in an escalation of tensions that have rocked the government. |
On Thursday, Mr Turnbull admonished Mr Joyce for making a "shocking error" over his affair with a former staffer - saying it had set off a "world of woe". | On Thursday, Mr Turnbull admonished Mr Joyce for making a "shocking error" over his affair with a former staffer - saying it had set off a "world of woe". |
It prompted the PM to officially ban sex between ministers and their staff. | It prompted the PM to officially ban sex between ministers and their staff. |
Mr Joyce said Mr Turnbull's remarks were "inept" and "unnecessary". | Mr Joyce said Mr Turnbull's remarks were "inept" and "unnecessary". |
"In many instances, they caused further harm," said Mr Joyce, who leads junior coalition party the Nationals. | "In many instances, they caused further harm," said Mr Joyce, who leads junior coalition party the Nationals. |
'Coalition in crisis' | 'Coalition in crisis' |
The opposition party, Labor, said the Liberal-Nationals coalition was "in crisis". | |
Mr Joyce said he would try to repair his relationship with Mr Turnbull, but again stared down calls to resign. | Mr Joyce said he would try to repair his relationship with Mr Turnbull, but again stared down calls to resign. |
Mr Turnbull has repeatedly said Mr Joyce's future is a decision for the Nationals, most of whom have publicly backed their leader. | Mr Turnbull has repeatedly said Mr Joyce's future is a decision for the Nationals, most of whom have publicly backed their leader. |
Mr Joyce's relationship with his former media adviser, Vikki Campion, has raised several politically damaging questions since it was revealed last week. | Mr Joyce's relationship with his former media adviser, Vikki Campion, has raised several politically damaging questions since it was revealed last week. |
Whatever happened to the bromance? | Whatever happened to the bromance? |
Hywel Griffith, BBC News Sydney correspondent | Hywel Griffith, BBC News Sydney correspondent |
It's just two months since Barnaby Joyce and Malcolm Turnbull posed in matching plaid shirts as they celebrated "getting the band back together" after Mr Joyce's by-election victory. | It's just two months since Barnaby Joyce and Malcolm Turnbull posed in matching plaid shirts as they celebrated "getting the band back together" after Mr Joyce's by-election victory. |
It looks like the band has struck some musical differences. | It looks like the band has struck some musical differences. |
Mr Joyce clearly didn't like being openly castigated by the PM over his extramarital affair, and so has gone on the attack. | Mr Joyce clearly didn't like being openly castigated by the PM over his extramarital affair, and so has gone on the attack. |
As the leaders of different parties within a coalition, you would expect a little friction from time to time. | As the leaders of different parties within a coalition, you would expect a little friction from time to time. |
But by engaging in some very public name-calling, the pair have given the opposition plenty of ammunition for the days and weeks ahead. | But by engaging in some very public name-calling, the pair have given the opposition plenty of ammunition for the days and weeks ahead. |
On Thursday, Mr Turnbull said Mr Joyce's affair had caused "terrible hurt and humiliation" to his estranged wife Natalie Joyce, their four daughters and Ms Campion. | On Thursday, Mr Turnbull said Mr Joyce's affair had caused "terrible hurt and humiliation" to his estranged wife Natalie Joyce, their four daughters and Ms Campion. |
Mr Joyce said on Friday: "I would not wish on friend nor foe the hurt, the scrutiny, the intense intrusion into your life that I have gone through [in] this process." | Mr Joyce said on Friday: "I would not wish on friend nor foe the hurt, the scrutiny, the intense intrusion into your life that I have gone through [in] this process." |
Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten said the government was "eating itself alive", and called on Mr Turnbull to sack Mr Joyce immediately. | Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten said the government was "eating itself alive", and called on Mr Turnbull to sack Mr Joyce immediately. |
"When the two most senior leaders of the government hate each other and are criticising each other, the people of Australia's interests are not being served," Mr Shorten said. | "When the two most senior leaders of the government hate each other and are criticising each other, the people of Australia's interests are not being served," Mr Shorten said. |
Mr Turnbull technically has the power to sack Mr Joyce, but such a move would be politically untenable, said Australian Broadcasting Corp election analyst Antony Green. | Mr Turnbull technically has the power to sack Mr Joyce, but such a move would be politically untenable, said Australian Broadcasting Corp election analyst Antony Green. |
"It's very difficult for the prime minister to sack him without breaking the coalition agreement," he said. | "It's very difficult for the prime minister to sack him without breaking the coalition agreement," he said. |
The coalition has only a one-seat majority in the House of Representatives. | The coalition has only a one-seat majority in the House of Representatives. |
Mr Joyce has faced scrutiny over the timing of two jobs offered to Ms Campion within the Nationals last year, and whether he sought a gift of free housing from a businessman. Mr Joyce denies ministerial standards were broken in either case. | Mr Joyce has faced scrutiny over the timing of two jobs offered to Ms Campion within the Nationals last year, and whether he sought a gift of free housing from a businessman. Mr Joyce denies ministerial standards were broken in either case. |
He will take a week of leave from Monday, meaning he will not be acting prime minister when Mr Turnbull conducts a visit to the US. | He will take a week of leave from Monday, meaning he will not be acting prime minister when Mr Turnbull conducts a visit to the US. |
Mr Joyce had only returned to parliament in December after briefly losing his job over his New Zealand dual citizenship. | Mr Joyce had only returned to parliament in December after briefly losing his job over his New Zealand dual citizenship. |