Barnaby Joyce Joins One Nation, Cites Global Rise of Populist Politics
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Australia is witnessing a surge in populist sentiment, and former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce is aligning himself with it. In his first interview since formally joining One Nation, Joyce drew parallels between the party and far-right movements across the globe, including the UK’s Reform UK led by Nigel Farage, France’s National Rally under Marine Le Pen, and Italy’s Brothers of Italy led by Giorgia Meloni, as well as the MAGA movement within the US Republican party.
Joyce, speaking with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s 7.30 program on Monday, asserted that Australia has been “late to the party” regarding the global trend of populist politics, attributing this to the country’s system of compulsory voting. However, he believes this is now changing. “It’s stickier here, but now it’s happening in Australia where people are more decisive and saying ‘I want more fuller colour in my politics’ … Australia has changed,” he stated.
The move follows weeks of speculation surrounding Joyce’s potential defection from the Nationals, a party he previously led. His decision comes as One Nation has been gaining traction in recent polls, reportedly at the expense of support for the governing Coalition.
Joyce Defends Hanson, Addresses Concerns Over One Nation’s Policies
Joyce was quick to defend One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, stating he does not believe she engages in racial vilification. “I don’t believe that there is a vilification by Pauline Hanson on racial groups,” he told 7.30, adding that he had not observed her engaging in such behavior during visits to cattle sale yards.
This defense comes despite Hanson’s recent suspension from parliament for a second time after wearing a burqa into the chamber, a move intended to advocate for a ban on the garment. When pressed on Hanson’s 2016 claim that Australia was being “swamped with Muslims,” Joyce offered a nuanced response. He acknowledged Australia’s multicultural fabric but cautioned against a form of multiculturalism that could be “divisive” and “weaken” the nation, emphasizing the need to become “as strong as possible as quickly as possible.”
Addressing specific One Nation policies, such as the call for a royal commission into whether Islam is a religion, Joyce offered a terse response: “Obviously Islam is a religion, right? Ok so if you’re looking for a straight answer, I’ve given you that one.” He declined to elaborate on whether he had discussed the issue with Hanson.
From Nationals Leadership to One Nation: A Shift in Political Strategy
Reports of Joyce considering a move to One Nation first surfaced in October, shortly before he announced he would not seek re-election in his New England electorate. At the time, Joyce cited an “irreparably broken down” relationship with Nationals leader David Littleproud. He had been excluded from the shadow cabinet following the Coalition’s defeat in the May election, with Littleproud citing a need for “generational change” within the party.
Nationals deputy leader Kevin Hogan publicly stated that Joyce’s departure was motivated by personal ambition. Joyce acknowledged this assessment to a degree, stating, “I believe that you’ve got to be as effective as you can possibly be, and I don’t believe sitting in the corner of the Coalition for 18 months not getting a question [in], being basically said, ‘Oh, for generational change, we’re moving over.'” He conceded a desire for a more prominent role in Australian politics, arguing that the political landscape itself is evolving. “The reality is that Australia has changed in the way it votes and we have to be part of it or get run over by it.”
Joyce will now contest a Senate seat in the next election as a One Nation candidate. .
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