Joyce's capacity to represent people of the bush is 'undiminished'

Nationals MP Mark Coulton spoke to our colleagues at ABC Orange a short time ago. He told them that while no-one could doubt the Deputy Prime Minister's affair had been a distraction for the party, Barnaby Joyce was still the best person for the job.

"Barnaby has been a very, very effective representative of regional Australia. I know he is going through a personal crisis at the moment, but his capacity to represent the people of the bush in Canberra is undiminished." "At this stage Barnaby is continuing on here and I certainly hope for the people of regional Australia that that continues to be the case."

Mr Coulton also said if there had been any kind of "crisis point" for the party, it had been yesterday, and that things within the Nationals were "business as usual" today.

Asked about how he thought the Deputy PM had handled the situation, he said he shouldn't comment.