Opposition wants to see former Nationals leader’s messages to Scott Morrison which he says constitute his report

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Labor is calling on the government to release the “awful lot” of reports that Barnaby Joyce says he sent directly to the prime minister by text message during his time as special drought envoy.

The agriculture minister, David Littleproud, told parliament last week that no report written by Joyce existed, but the former Nationals leader claimed he had made many reports that were sent directly to Scott Morrison.

The government is also refusing to release a second report, produced by the drought coordinator general, Stephen Day, saying it is subject to cabinet deliberations.

In the wake of criticism on Friday, Joyce refused to say what was contained in the messages, but said “I directly sent reports” and added that there was an “awful lot” of correspondence.

Labor lashes drought envoy Barnaby Joyce for failing to produce report Read more

“If you say a report is a written segment to the prime minister … then they definitely went to him, I definitely sent them, I sent them by SMS to him and they were read,” Joyce told ABC.

“To say that they were not sent or not compiled is incorrect.”

Labor’s shadow minister for agriculture, Joel Fitzgibbon, said the government should release the text messages that Joyce claims constituted his report.

“Barnaby Joyce has been doubling-down since Friday, but he keeps changing his story. Every story he tells contradicts what minister Littleproud told the president of the Senate,” Fitzgibbon said.

“His latest excuse seems to be that the dog ate his homework. It’s time Scott Morrison explained what value the taxpayer got from Barnaby Joyce’s role of Drought Envoy.”

“The PM must also provide a copy of the Drought Coordinator’s report which we suspect is critical of the government’s drought response.”

A spokesperson for the prime minister’s office has said a written report was never part of the terms of reference surrounding Joyce’s appointment, and said he had input into the extension of the drought communities program, and the decision to boost investment in more rural financial councillors in drought areas and programs to tackle pests and weeds.

The Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek said the Coalition could have spent the money directly on drought assistance, rather than on the Joyce appointment, for which an extra staff allocation was estimated to cost more than $200,000.

“I’m really distressed that more has not been done for farmers,” Plibersek told the Nine Network on Monday.

“Wouldn’t that money have been better spent actually helping people on the ground, rather than having a summit, a coordinator, an envoy, and a future fund that doesn’t actually spend any money until 2020?”

The government is also refusing to release a report undertaken by the coordinator general for drought, which has been delivered to the government but remains the subject of cabinet deliberations.

“The government’s considerations will address Major General Day’s advice along with other short-term and long-term options to support drought-affected farmers and communities,” Littleproud said.