The former deputy prime minister confirms to the ABC that he will seek to return to the Nationals leadership if both leader and deputy positions are spilled when the party meets to replace Bridget McKenzie.
Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce will seek to return to the job he lost to scandal two years ago if the Nationals spill both leadership positions when they meet to replace outgoing deputy Bridget McKenzie.
"If there is a spill, I will stand. It is entirely up to them if they wish to spill," the former Nationals leader told the ABC., after weeks of pressure from a sports grants scandal. An investigation by the Prime Minister's department found Senator McKenzie breached ministerial rules in, which was awarded a $36,000 grant under a program she managed.
That investigation found she had followed the rules in administering the program, a stark contrast to a scathing auditor-general report that found the Government had favoured marginal and targeted seats in a $100 million pre-election cash splash.
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