Australia's deputy prime minister said on Friday Feb 23,2018 he will resign as leader of his party after weeks of pressure over an affair with a staffer that brought him into open conflict with his premier and threatened to shatter a decades-old coalition.
Barnaby Joyce said he will step down on Monday as leader of the National party, the junior partner in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's centre-right coalition, after resisting earlier calls to quit over the affair with his former media secretary, with whom he is expecting a child.
He will remain in parliament, safeguarding Turnbull's shaky one-seat majority.
Joyce's decision came after a falling-out with Turnbull, who is in the United States for meetings with President Donald Trump and who declined to leave him in charge while he is out of the country.
Joyce, a practising Catholic, has been married for 24 years and has campaigned on family values. He said he decided to quit after an allegation of sexual harassment emerged on Friday.
He denied any wrongdoing but acknowledged the allegation had hastened his decision.
"I will say on Monday morning at the party room I will step down as the leader of the National Party and deputy leader of Australia," Joyce said.
Joyce, whose support base rests in
Australia's traditionally conservative rural areas, wore his trademark
Akubra bushman's hat as he spoke to journalists in Armidale, the farming
town he represents about 485 km (300 miles) northeast of Sydney.
Little-known outside Australia, Joyce made international headlines in 2015 when he deported two dogs brought into Australia by U.S. actor Johnny Depp without the proper paperwork, a row that became known as the "war on terrier".
Little-known outside Australia, Joyce made international headlines in 2015 when he deported two dogs brought into Australia by U.S. actor Johnny Depp without the proper paperwork, a row that became known as the "war on terrier".
Joyce had only been back in parliament less
than a month after falling victim to a citizenship crisis that has
dogged Turnbull's government. Australia's High Court deemed Joyce was a
New Zealand citizen in October, forcing Turnbull to rule in minority
until Joyce re-contested and won his seat.
National Party federal director Ben Hindmarsh said on Friday the party had received the sexual harassment allegation against Joyce but declined to give any details.
National Party federal director Ben Hindmarsh said on Friday the party had received the sexual harassment allegation against Joyce but declined to give any details.
The National Party will now elect a new
leader, who will also become deputy prime minister under the terms of
the coalition agreement with Turnbull's Liberal party.
Joyce's resignation will potentially heal the rift between the Liberal and National parties, a political alliance that has existed for nearly 100 years.
Joyce's resignation will potentially heal the rift between the Liberal and National parties, a political alliance that has existed for nearly 100 years.
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