The National Party has been experiencing the Barnaby juggernaut.
But first let’s talk about the leader who resigned, Warren Truss, and a bit of history about the party itself.
The National Party prides itself on being a party full of respectful upstanding citizens. And they are. Mostly male, but also with some strong women in their ranks, they represent a part of Australia that many of us may recognise from days gone by. But did those days ever really exist? Are they in fact in our imagination? Our image of the “Nats” equals old fashioned respect for authority, hard work, discipline and country life.
These days they have evolved from the Country Party that they were into a party supporting regional Australia, in essence life away from the capital cities. They are farmers and city folk who call country regions home. If the Liberal Party is full of career politicians, lawyers and small business people, the Nationals are farmers, accountants and country doctors.
So imagine how a party like that has felt over the last few years as Barnaby Joyce, a maverick and unpredictable type of politician with a huge public profile, began to push his leadership credentials. A lot of them didn’t like it. This isn’t how it is done in the old National Party some said. So as Barnaby Joyce pushed, a significant minority of Parliamentary party members had another movement going, let’s call that the “Anyone but Barnaby” ticket.
'As far as the public is concerned Barnaby Joyce is about the only National Party member with a profile.'
Warren Truss is respected across the Party and is an old fashioned type. He resigned to Parliament in his own way and essentially to his own timing (although rushed a bit at the end due to political events outside of his control). Barnaby Joyce had the numbers for leadership and was the only candidate. He becomes the party leader and when sworn will be the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.
But the Barnaby experience hasn’t been an easy road for the Nats. Barnaby Joyce is known around the country just by his first name: Barnaby. And a significant minority of the party are unhappy about the way he has pushed his way to the front. But today they accept it. They will move on.
In the Parliament during his resignation speech Warren Truss showed the credentials of loyalty and respect his party love in him. He paid tribute to his wife and family and the Australian public.
'Part Donald Trump without the money.'
“It has been a great pleasure and privilege to be a member of the federal parliament. Next month it will be 26 years since I was first elected to the parliament, and 40 years since I was first elected to public office, as a member of the Kingaroy Shire council. In my early years, I was always talked about as the youngest national president of the Council of Rural Youth, the youngest councillor, the youngest mayor, but now that I am numbered amongst the oldest I think it is time to go.”
He joked that when he became leader after the 2007 election loss no one wanted the job as National Party leader. Now everyone wants it he said.
Warren Truss did delay his departure announcement as some on his side tried to boost support for the “Anyone but Barnaby” ticket, but they were not able to get enough support. Barnaby Joyce has the numbers and what is more as far as the public is concerned he is about the only National Party member with a profile.
He is an unusual politician that is for sure. The man who captured international headlines when he threatened to put down Johnny Depp’s dogs, was also dumped as Shadow Finance Minister during the coalition’s time in opposition. He is part Chauncey Gardiner (the classic lead role in “Being There’ played by Peter Sellers), part Tim Fischer (National Party leader 1996-99), part Donald Trump without the money. He does not want to be a boring politician so he pushes the envelope. Sometimes he succeeds, sometimes he doesn’t.
In a Sydney Morning Herald report last year, Barnaby Joyce talked about his connection with Australian voters. "When people see me at the airport, they say, 'G'day, Barnaby,' " he reports. "They talk to you with a sense of familiarity, as if they really do know you." He believes he has a special connection with Australians.
His leadership is likely to be memorable but bumpy.
