Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said Christian Porter deserves a second chance if he uses his time on the backbench well.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Joyce is acting Prime Minister after Scott Morrison flew to Washington,DC,on Monday morning to meet US President Joe Biden as part of a week-long visit to the US. After three years on the backbench,Mr Joyce returned as the leader of the Nationals this year after winning a spill motion against Riverina MP Michael McCormack.
Drawing on his own experience on the backbench,Mr Joyce said Mr Porter would have “a bit of time on[his] hands” but suggested he could make a comeback to cabinet if he used that time productively,describing him as an “incredibly intelligent person”.
“If he uses[his time] effectively,I believe he should be given another chance at some future time in a senior role.”
Asked why it was not acceptable for a minister to take mystery donations,but the same standard did not apply to MPs,Mr Joyce responded:“The ministerial code of conduct is not a discussion about legal or illegal. It’s a discussion about what the Prime Minister believes is acceptable to be a minister. Mr Porter has not done anything illegal. If he had,the police would be here.
Barnaby Joyce said Christian Porter would have “a bit of time on[his] hands” on the backbench.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“Now the contract is from his employer,which is the[Perth] electorate of Pearce.”
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said Mr Porter was “certainly breaking the rules” by not disclosing the source of the donations in the MPs register of interests.