Barnaby Joyce sent text to Scott Morrison warning the government was in ‘precarious’ position
Barnaby Joyce has released the exact text he sent Scott Morrison last week, in an attempt to downplay reports he threatened to cross the floor and vote against the government.
On Friday, The Australian reported Mr Joyce told the Prime Minister he’d put the government in a “precarious” position by only promoting MPs loyal to incumbent Nationals leader Michael McCormack in last week’s ministerial reshuffle.
The suggestion was that Mr Joyce and two other Nationals MPs – Llew O’Brien and George Christensen – were “very aware” they held the balance of power in the House of Representatives, and were also prepared to block government legislation.
The Coalition has a majority of two MPs in the House, so Mr Joyce, Mr O’Brien and Mr Christensen could conceivably follow through on such a threat.
The thing is, Mr Joyce denies he made the threat at all.
His text message to the Prime Minister, sent during Question Time on Thursday, was revealed by Sky News host Laura Jayes this morning.
“Sorry Scott. But Michael picking only those who voted for him is foolish as it leaves little room for ownership to the team and as such makes things precarious,” Mr Joyce wrote.
If there is a threat there, it is implied.
Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell said Mr Morrison’s response to the text was to the effect of: “It’s not my business, it’s National Party business.”
The catalyst for the exchange was the ministerial reshuffle Mr Morrison announced last week amid the fallout from Mr Joyce’s failed attempt to seize the National Party leadership from Mr McCormack.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/barnaby-joyce-sent-text-to-scott-morrison-warning-the-government-was-in-precarious-position/news-story/917e16c4a374302bfdd7250903b745ae
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