Barnaby Joyce is taking some time off just weeks after he was filmed lying on a public sidewalk drunk and slurring profanities into his phone.
The former deputy prime minister came under intense scrutiny earlier this month after a viral video emerged showing him lying on a Canberra street late at night which he later blamed on mixing alcohol with prescription drugs.
Ahead of a busy day of parliamentary sitting on Monday, Nationals leader David Littleproud said Joyce had taken the week off after urging the MP to take leave to deal with “personal matters”.
I’ll take Barnaby’s word for it. He won’t be here this week. “He has notified me that he will not be coming to parliament,” Mr Littleproud said.
The former deputy prime minister came under intense scrutiny earlier this month after a viral video emerged showing him lying on a Canberra street late at night which he later blamed on mixing alcohol with prescription drugs.
Ahead of a busy day of parliamentary sitting on Monday, Nationals leader David Littleproud said Joyce had taken the week off after urging the MP to take leave to deal with “personal matters”.
‘He is having the week off, which we gave him the opportunity to do with his family.
‘I respect that. And I hope, I hope that yesterday you went to church and the only thing you had was altar wine.
Joyce said she would give up alcohol for Lent.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joked that Joyce will not host his party after announcing his engagement to girlfriend Jodie Haydon.
Albanese, 60, got down on one knee on Valentine’s Day and has been fielding media questions about her wedding ever since.
Speaking to Melbourne’s Fox FM radio hosts, Albanese quickly dismissed the idea that embattled Nationals leader Mr Joyce was planning his dollar night.
“No mate, I want to stay vertical,” the prime minister said on Friday.
Albanese had previously ruled out inviting Joyce to the wedding, telling KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O on Wednesday that he was the only person off the list so far.
“Barnaby is not invited… that’s very clear,” he said.
The Albanian government has taken a hard hit in new polls since its review of stage 3 tax cuts and days before a crucial by-election.
Parliament will sit for the next four days before a by-election is held in Dunkley’s Melbourne seat on Saturday, following the death of Labor MP Peta Murphy, the first big electoral test of the year.
Two new polls show that despite the changes to the tax cuts – which are due to be passed in parliament this week – the government suffered a drop in its primary vote.
The Australian’s Newspoll shows the government has failed to improve its overall position since December.
Barnaby Joyce is taking some time off just weeks after he was filmed lying on a public sidewalk drunk and slurring profanities into his phone.
Labour’s primary vote trailed the Coalition by 36 to 33 per cent, although the government maintained a four-point lead in the two-party preferred voting system, 52 to 48 per cent, two points more than in the February polls.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said she knew the by-election would be difficult but was confident Labor candidate Jodie Belyea would sway voters.
“Midterms are tough and that’s why our candidate is out there every day talking to voters about what matters to them: the cost of living,” he said.
National MPs leader Barnaby Joyce declared that the high cost of living was “absolutely killing people”, arguing that recent scandals involving border protection would reduce Labour’s chances.
“(Voters) can’t afford what’s happening at the checkout and they certainly can’t afford the energy prices,” he said.
‘Let’s see what the Labor Party can do. They don’t deserve to win; Let’s put it this way, let’s see what happens.”
Newspoll results also showed Albanese gaining one point for “best prime minister”, from 46 to 47 per cent, while Dutton held steady at 35 per cent. Another 18 percent were not engaged.
A poll by Resolve Political Monitor for the nine newspapers found the primary vote for Labor fell at one point from 35 to 34 per cent since December, while the Coalition gained ground from 34 per cent to 37 per cent.
While Albanese was still seven points ahead of Dutton (39 to 32 per cent) as preferred prime minister, the margin was also at its lowest level since Labor returned to power.