'First I knew about it was when I read it in the paper': Joyce's barb over demotion
Barnaby Joyce has castigated Nationals Leader David Littleproud for failing to personally tell him he had been demoted to the Opposition backbench.
"The first I knew about it was when I read it in the paper," Mr Joyce told the Leader on Wednesday, May 28.
He was speaking after being officially declared winner of the federal seat of New England following the May 3 election.
"You only want to know about losing your job from your boss, you don't want to read about it in the paper," Mr Joyce said.
"As for generational change, that's all bullshit ... It's really about personalities and politics."
Mr Joyce, who has represented New England since 2013, was referring to national media reports that he was going to be relegated to the backbench following a shadow cabinet reshuffle.
"When it comes to winning, you should pick your best players, not your best friends," Mr Joyce said.
He also took aim at the "divorce debacle" in the days following the election, in which Mr Littleproud and incoming Liberal Leader Susan Ley announced they would dissolve the Coalition.
"In the marriage, out of the marriage, it was just a debacle," Mr Joyce said.
"It was unprofessional and embarrassing."
Since then, both leaders have reunited to form a new Coalition agreement, with the Liberals giving support to a new policy on nuclear energy.
But while Mr Joyce remains an ardent supporter of nuclear power, he has been shunted from the Opposition frontbench, where he served as Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs. That job will now be held by Darren Chester.
Former Nats leader Michael McCormack is also set to return to the shadow backbench.
There were, however, compensations about returning to the Opposition backbench, Mr Joyce said
"I can truly represent the people of New England and not be constrained in what I have to say," he said.
"New England is bearing the brunt of renewable energy.
"If you want solar or wind power, build a wind turbine off the coast of Manly, or plant the transmission lines through Mosman, not in Nundle and across our country."
Mr Joyce was first elected as a senator for Queensland in 2004.
He was re-elected as a member of the Coalition in 2010 and has served as leader of the Nationals and deputy prime minister.
At the declaration of poll announcement in Armidale, Mr Joyce was shown to have increased his margin, winning the seat by a comfortable 59,711 votes.
The new member for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey, has been named Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Resources in the reshuffle.
The reshuffle means the Nationals will have six representatives in the inner cabinet and two in the outer cabinet.
Barnaby Joyce has castigated Nationals Leader David Littleproud for failing to personally tell him he had been demoted to the Opposition backbench.
"The first I knew about it was when I read it in the paper," Mr Joyce told the Leader on Wednesday, May 28.
He was speaking after being officially declared winner of the federal seat of New England following the May 3 election.
"You only want to know about losing your job from your boss, you don't want to read about it in the paper," Mr Joyce said.
"As for generational change, that's all bullshit ... It's really about personalities and politics."
Mr Joyce, who has represented New England since 2013, was referring to national media reports that he was going to be relegated to the backbench following a shadow cabinet reshuffle.
"When it comes to winning, you should pick your best players, not your best friends," Mr Joyce said.
He also took aim at the "divorce debacle" in the days following the election, in which Mr Littleproud and incoming Liberal Leader Susan Ley announced they would dissolve the Coalition.
"In the marriage, out of the marriage, it was just a debacle," Mr Joyce said.
"It was unprofessional and embarrassing."
Since then, both leaders have reunited to form a new Coalition agreement, with the Liberals giving support to a new policy on nuclear energy.
But while Mr Joyce remains an ardent supporter of nuclear power, he has been shunted from the Opposition frontbench, where he served as Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs. That job will now be held by Darren Chester.
Former Nats leader Michael McCormack is also set to return to the shadow backbench.
There were, however, compensations about returning to the Opposition backbench, Mr Joyce said
"I can truly represent the people of New England and not be constrained in what I have to say," he said.
"New England is bearing the brunt of renewable energy.
"If you want solar or wind power, build a wind turbine off the coast of Manly, or plant the transmission lines through Mosman, not in Nundle and across our country."
Mr Joyce was first elected as a senator for Queensland in 2004.
He was re-elected as a member of the Coalition in 2010 and has served as leader of the Nationals and deputy prime minister.
At the declaration of poll announcement in Armidale, Mr Joyce was shown to have increased his margin, winning the seat by a comfortable 59,711 votes.
The new member for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey, has been named Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Resources in the reshuffle.
The reshuffle means the Nationals will have six representatives in the inner cabinet and two in the outer cabinet.
Barnaby Joyce has castigated Nationals Leader David Littleproud for failing to personally tell him he had been demoted to the Opposition backbench.
"The first I knew about it was when I read it in the paper," Mr Joyce told the Leader on Wednesday, May 28.
He was speaking after being officially declared winner of the federal seat of New England following the May 3 election.
"You only want to know about losing your job from your boss, you don't want to read about it in the paper," Mr Joyce said.
"As for generational change, that's all bullshit ... It's really about personalities and politics."
Mr Joyce, who has represented New England since 2013, was referring to national media reports that he was going to be relegated to the backbench following a shadow cabinet reshuffle.
"When it comes to winning, you should pick your best players, not your best friends," Mr Joyce said.
He also took aim at the "divorce debacle" in the days following the election, in which Mr Littleproud and incoming Liberal Leader Susan Ley announced they would dissolve the Coalition.
"In the marriage, out of the marriage, it was just a debacle," Mr Joyce said.
"It was unprofessional and embarrassing."
Since then, both leaders have reunited to form a new Coalition agreement, with the Liberals giving support to a new policy on nuclear energy.
But while Mr Joyce remains an ardent supporter of nuclear power, he has been shunted from the Opposition frontbench, where he served as Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs. That job will now be held by Darren Chester.
Former Nats leader Michael McCormack is also set to return to the shadow backbench.
There were, however, compensations about returning to the Opposition backbench, Mr Joyce said
"I can truly represent the people of New England and not be constrained in what I have to say," he said.
"New England is bearing the brunt of renewable energy.
"If you want solar or wind power, build a wind turbine off the coast of Manly, or plant the transmission lines through Mosman, not in Nundle and across our country."
Mr Joyce was first elected as a senator for Queensland in 2004.
He was re-elected as a member of the Coalition in 2010 and has served as leader of the Nationals and deputy prime minister.
At the declaration of poll announcement in Armidale, Mr Joyce was shown to have increased his margin, winning the seat by a comfortable 59,711 votes.
The new member for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey, has been named Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Resources in the reshuffle.
The reshuffle means the Nationals will have six representatives in the inner cabinet and two in the outer cabinet.
Barnaby Joyce has castigated Nationals Leader David Littleproud for failing to personally tell him he had been demoted to the Opposition backbench.
"The first I knew about it was when I read it in the paper," Mr Joyce told the Leader on Wednesday, May 28.
He was speaking after being officially declared winner of the federal seat of New England following the May 3 election.
"You only want to know about losing your job from your boss, you don't want to read about it in the paper," Mr Joyce said.
"As for generational change, that's all bullshit ... It's really about personalities and politics."
Mr Joyce, who has represented New England since 2013, was referring to national media reports that he was going to be relegated to the backbench following a shadow cabinet reshuffle.
"When it comes to winning, you should pick your best players, not your best friends," Mr Joyce said.
He also took aim at the "divorce debacle" in the days following the election, in which Mr Littleproud and incoming Liberal Leader Susan Ley announced they would dissolve the Coalition.
"In the marriage, out of the marriage, it was just a debacle," Mr Joyce said.
"It was unprofessional and embarrassing."
Since then, both leaders have reunited to form a new Coalition agreement, with the Liberals giving support to a new policy on nuclear energy.
But while Mr Joyce remains an ardent supporter of nuclear power, he has been shunted from the Opposition frontbench, where he served as Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs. That job will now be held by Darren Chester.
Former Nats leader Michael McCormack is also set to return to the shadow backbench.
There were, however, compensations about returning to the Opposition backbench, Mr Joyce said
"I can truly represent the people of New England and not be constrained in what I have to say," he said.
"New England is bearing the brunt of renewable energy.
"If you want solar or wind power, build a wind turbine off the coast of Manly, or plant the transmission lines through Mosman, not in Nundle and across our country."
Mr Joyce was first elected as a senator for Queensland in 2004.
He was re-elected as a member of the Coalition in 2010 and has served as leader of the Nationals and deputy prime minister.
At the declaration of poll announcement in Armidale, Mr Joyce was shown to have increased his margin, winning the seat by a comfortable 59,711 votes.
The new member for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey, has been named Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Resources in the reshuffle.
The reshuffle means the Nationals will have six representatives in the inner cabinet and two in the outer cabinet.
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