Key Takeaways
- Barnaby Joyce has formally joined One Nation, citing a desire to be part of a global movement of populist politics
- Joyce believes Australia is late to the party, but the phenomenon is now underway, with compulsory voting slowing its entry
- He defends his new party leader, Pauline Hanson, against claims of racial vilification, stating that she does not vilify ethnic or migrant groups
- Joyce acknowledges that politics is changing, and he sees himself as part of that change, with a desire to play a more significant role in Australian politics
- The Nationals party believes Joyce’s decision to join One Nation is motivated by personal ambition, with Joyce conceding that he wants to be as effective as possible in politics
Introduction to Barnaby Joyce’s Decision
Barnaby Joyce, the former leader of the Nationals, has formally joined One Nation, a move that has been speculated about for weeks. In his first interview since joining the party, Joyce spoke to 7.30 about his decision, citing a desire to be part of a global movement of populist politics. He believes that Australia is late to the party, but the phenomenon is now underway, with compulsory voting slowing its entry. Joyce compared One Nation to Britain’s far-right Reform UK party under populist leader Nigel Farage, stating that he sees similarities between the two parties.
Defending Pauline Hanson
Joyce also defended his new party leader, Pauline Hanson, against claims of racial vilification. He stated that Hanson does not vilify ethnic or migrant groups in Australia, and that he had not seen her do so during his time with the party. This defense comes despite Hanson’s history of controversial comments, including her claim that Australia was being swamped with Muslims. When asked about this comment, Joyce responded by stating that Australia can have multi-ethnicities, multi-religions, and multi-faiths, but that the country needs to become as strong as possible as quickly as possible. He also acknowledged that Islam is a religion, but would not confirm whether he had discussed the matter with Hanson.
One Nation’s Policies
Joyce was also asked about One Nation’s policies towards Muslims, including the party’s call for a royal commission into whether Islam is a religion. He stated that obviously, Islam is a religion, but would not confirm whether he had discussed the matter with Hanson. This lack of clarity on the party’s policies has raised concerns among some, who see One Nation’s stance on Islam as divisive and discriminatory. Despite these concerns, Joyce believes that the party is gaining momentum, and that he is proud to be a part of it.
Motivations for Joining One Nation
The Nationals party has stated that Joyce’s decision to join One Nation is motivated by personal ambition. Joyce conceded that he wants to be as effective as possible in politics, and that he believes joining One Nation will allow him to do so. He also stated that politics itself is changing, and that he sees himself as part of that change. With compulsory voting slowing Australia’s entry into the global movement of populist politics, Joyce believes that the country is now catching up, and that One Nation is at the forefront of this movement.
Conclusion and Future Plans
In conclusion, Barnaby Joyce’s decision to join One Nation is a significant move in Australian politics. With his defense of Pauline Hanson and his acknowledgment of the party’s policies, Joyce is clearly committed to his new party. As he prepares to run as a One Nation candidate for the Senate at the next election, Joyce will be closely watched by politicians and voters alike. Whether his decision to join One Nation will pay off remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – Australian politics will be interesting to watch in the coming months. Joyce’s move has sparked a lot of debate, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the future. Only time will tell if Joyce’s decision to join One Nation will be a success or a failure.
