In a candid interview from his Tamworth office, the now-independent federal member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, has laid bare the reasons behind his dramatic split from The Nationals party, stating he felt he was becoming "less effective" within its ranks.
A Seat in the Back and a Feeling of Humiliation
Speaking on Tuesday, December 3, 2025, while surrounded by piles of Christmas cards, Joyce described his final months with the party as constrained and ultimately humiliating. He revealed the party leadership had placed him in a parliamentary seat as far from the dispatch box as possible, an act he likened to being placed in an "ejection seat."
"I'm not a fool. I can read the tea leaves," Joyce said, indicating he chose to jump before being pushed. He expressed particular frustration at being corralled into his electorate of New England during the last election campaign and not being permitted to campaign elsewhere. "It was humiliating," he stated, his voice rising with remembered annoyance.
Independence and the Allure of the Senate
Joyce's newfound independence, he argues, frees him from the constraints of the party "tent" while allowing him to remain close enough to still influence matters. He confirmed he will not contest the seat of New England again at the next election.
The conversation naturally turned to his political future, with Joyce bringing up One Nation and its leader, Pauline Hanson, unprompted. He reflected warmly on a dinner of steak cooked on a sandwich press at Hanson's home, joking he didn't realise it was wagyu at the time. "If I'd known what it was I probably would have had to declare it," he laughed.
He spoke dreamily of a potential return to the Senate, where he served Queensland for over eight years, noting that "the numbers will be tight." Such a position, he believes, would put him in a powerful bargaining position for regional Australia, far more effective than "twiddling my thumbs in the back corner of opposition."
Focus on the Fundamentals, Not 'Chasing Butterflies'
Joyce outlined that 90 per cent of his work now, as before, is administrative—chasing issues like fixing the Port Stephens Cutting or helping constituents with pensions and roads. He dismissed what he calls "chasing butterflies"—engaging in culture wars on peripheral issues.
He insists his core conservative supporters in places like South Tamworth want a focus on fundamentals. "My job, my power bill, my grocery bill, my kids educated, roads fixed. I don't need to know what your view is on Palestine," he said, defining his political philosophy.
On policy, Joyce remains committed to major projects for the New England region, including a nuclear power plant in Muswellbrook and the resurrection of the New Dungowan Dam, though only the Inland Rail project has seen tangible progress. He also feels vindicated by the major parties dropping their net zero commitments, a move he credits to One Nation's rising influence.
For now, the sign outside his Peel Street office still reads "The Nationals Member for New England," a remnant of his past life. But Barnaby Joyce is charting a new, independent course, determined to prove his effectiveness from outside the traditional party structure.
