Liberals dismiss Barnaby Joyce's claims of talks with One Nation as fantasy
Senior Australian Liberal figures have denied Barnaby Joyce's claims that he held talks about a potential supply-and-confidence deal between One Nation and the Coalition. Opposition leader Angus Taylor insists no such discussions took place.
Barnaby Joyce, who defected from the Nationals to Pauline Hanson's One Nation party in December, said on Tuesday night that he had held talks with senior Liberals about a possible arrangement that could help the Coalition oust Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after the next election.
Joyce said One Nation would be willing to offer the Coalition supply and confidence in exchange for agreement on specific policy outcomes and a clear commitment that those outcomes would be recognised as shared priorities, with legislation reviewed as it emerged. He added that if One Nation won more seats than the Coalition at the next election, it would expect the same arrangement offered in return.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor denied on Wednesday that any such talks had occurred, stating he had not authorised anyone to hold such conversations. Joyce declined to name which Liberals he had spoken with and would not confirm or deny whether the discussions involved Taylor or shadow ministers, including Nationals leader Matt Canavan.
One Nation has ruled out a formal coalition agreement with the Liberals and Nationals, though Taylor has left open the possibility of governing in minority if One Nation guaranteed not to vote against government legislation.
Senior Liberals rejected Joyce's claims on Wednesday. Deputy leader Jane Hume said Joyce was "clutching at straws" and suggested he may be experiencing regret over his move to One Nation. Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson called the alleged talks a "figment of Barnaby's imagination," pointing out that Joyce had previously promised his electorate he would remain a Nationals MP and support his party leader — promises he later broke.
Joyce responded by calling Wilson "a clown," arguing the Coalition lacks the numbers to secure supply and confidence without One Nation's involvement.
