National party divisions more defined, as senior Coalition partner weathers its own storm

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Public spats have broken out across the Coalition, as the fallout from the Barnaby Joyce affair continues to give licence for other grievances to be aired – even among traditional allies.

While the rift within the National party intensifies ahead of Joyce’s return to work on Monday, its senior Coalition partner is weathering its own storm, as former prime minister Tony Abbott squares off against his colleagues over immigration.

In the latest wave of internal irritation within the government to make its way to the public sphere, Steve Ciobo, Mathias Cormann and Scott Morrison have all challenged Abbott’s clarion call to cut Australia’s immigration rates.

WA Nationals say Barnaby Joyce should not stay federal leader Read more

Ciobo said Abbott’s views were “lazy and inaccurate”, while Cormann, currently the acting prime minister, dismissed as plain “wrong” Abbott’s call to cut immigration from 190,000 to 110,000 a year.

Morrison argued the economics of Abbott’s plan didn’t play out, claiming it would cost the budget up to $5bn over four years, and impact the nation’s skills level.

Peter Dutton, who had previously indicated he may be willing to look at lowering the permanent migration cap, walked back on his original comments on Wednesday, declaring at his National Press Club address the current immigration settings were correct.

But it was Morrison, a known ally, whom Abbott took aim at in his response to the criticism - taking to social media to lambast Morrison for not thinking independently.

Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) Scott should have the gumption to think for himself: https://t.co/74nCit8HaY

“Scott Morrison has conveniently forgotten the very vigorous discussion about cutting immigration that took place inside government in early 2015 as part of the budget process,” he said.

“Because we were achieving a reduction anyway I eventually decided not to adjust the official figure but I kept it on the table as I never accepted the Treasury orthodoxy that more migrants meant more growth and a stronger budget outcome.

“If Treasury is right why not solve the deficit simply by ramping up immigration?

“I repeat, we should not let Treasury’s accounting rules stop the government from acting in our medium term national interests and Scott should have the gumption to think for himself.”

It’s the latest volley in a raft of rifts being made public within the Coalition, which have intensified in the days following Malcolm Turnbull’s public set-down of Joyce for his decision to engage in an affair with a former staffer.

Malcolm Turnbull and Barnaby Joyce meet to resolve row Read more

Joyce responded by calling Turnbull “inept”, with the working relationship between the two men now under question as the deputy prime minister refuses to step down from the leadership of his party or the front bench.

But it is not just the relationship between the two Coalition leaders under question, with divisions within the National party becoming more defined.

Andrew Broad was the latest Nationals MP to wander into the fray in the wake of Joyce’s “move on” interview with Fairfax Media.

Andrew Broad MP (@broad4mallee) Quote from the late Billy Graham “when wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost”... telling words for the Leadership of the National Party.

Quoting the late US evangelical preacher Billy Graham, whose death on Thursday created international headlines, Broad passed comment on the character of his leader.

“When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost,” Broad tweeted on Thursday morning.

“…Telling words for the leadership of the National party.”

No clear challenger has emerged for Joyce’s position, with the deputy prime minister telling supporters he expects to survive the political storm which emerged following the public reveal of his affair, and allegations he misused his public office during the relationship.

Broad has not previously publicly stated his position, but is counted among National MPs who would vote against Joyce if a leadership challenge became a reality.

At this stage, the Nationals party room meeting scheduled for Monday remains non-compulsory.