One Nation Figures Say Barnaby Joyce ‘No Longer Belongs’ in Nationals

As Barnaby Joyce continues to weigh up his future, One Nation figures back the storied MPs potential switch to Pauline Hanson’s conservative party.

Joyce, a former deputy prime minister and now-staunch net zero opponent, has been at odds with the Liberal-National Coalition leadership over whether it continues to pursue its 2050 emissions target.

One Nation has campaigned strongly against net zero.

Greg Cheesman, One Nation candidate and event manager for the Victorian branch of the Conservative Political Action Conference, said the door was open for the federal MP for New England.

“It’s not locked away or guaranteed that that’s exactly what he’s going to do. But everything is pointing to that direction,” Cheesman told The Epoch Times.

“And it makes sense. He no longer belongs in the Nationals. He’s been sidelined. He’s been pushed to the outer of the party room, which means he’s not as relevant as what he once was.”

“They’re [Coalition] moving to the left. The Liberals are already there. So where does somebody with conservative values go?

Questions remain over Joyce’s stance as Parliament sits again with the Nationals MP chose to opt-out of the party room meeting on Oct. 27, due to his declaration that he would not run again for the party at the next federal election.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud said the regional party’s review needed to consider the government’s plan and not be about saying “no.”

“It’s great to sit there and beat your chest and say ‘no,’ that’s the easiest thing to do in politics,” he told reporters in Canberra before the meeting.

“The hardest thing is to say, ‘What’s the alternative?'”

He said Joyce was welcome to rejoin the Nationals at any point.

Meanwhile, Cheesman’s comments were echoed by previous One Nation candidate Bianca Colecchia in Melbourne.

“[Joyce’s values align with One Nation] because his party refuses to move away from net zero. It’s really hurting farmers and rural areas, and it has real implications on everybody’s lives and cost of living,” Colecchia said.

Rural landowners previously told The Epoch Times they opposed the Allan government’s National Electricity (Victoria) Amendment (VicGrid Stage 2 Reform) Bill 2025.

The law overrides landowners’ rights so government workers can access their properties for the purpose of installing transmission lines for renewable energy projects.

1 Year Left Until Victoria Votes

Meanwhile, in Victoria, polling from the Australian Financial Review/Redbridge shows the incumbent Victorian Labor government is on track to win a fourth consecutive term in November next year.

But Cheesman said the real ideological battle would begin after Christmas where he will run for the North East Metropolitan seat in the upper house.

“We’re about a year away from the next election. Most Victorians really aren’t engaged until after Christmas. After we come back from the Christmas break, it’ll be on like Donkey Kong,” he said.

“The Labor Party is bleeding votes left, right, and centre. So is the Coalition.

“I don’t want to come second or third. I want to win, and I need 78,000 votes to get me over the line and into the upper house.”

Colecchia also threw her support behind the rally goers at the March for Australia event in Melbourne on Oct. 19, saying their concerns about immigration numbers coming into the country were legitimate.

“I always say the primary objective of any government should be to look after their own people first,” she said.

“It’s not about being racist or not wanting migration. But you need to get your priorities in check.”

Ethan Keirs, 24, also attended the March for Australia rally.

He said many young Australians were starting to develop conservative views because he believes the nation has dropped its standards on managing crime, the economy, and immigration numbers.

“It’s well and truly slipped. Even in the short 24 years I’ve been around. It’s so bad,” he said.

“I think there’s definitely a big culture divide now in my 2000-plus generation, especially now they’re starting to lean more right wing.”