A former Nationals senator credited with installing Barnaby Joyce as the party’s Senate leader has described the MP’s resignation from the party this week as “an act of treason”.
John “Wacka” Williams cast the deciding vote that gave Mr Joyce the Nationals’ Senate leadership over Nigel Scullion in 2008.
He said Mr Joyce’s decision to leave the party could be the end of a long friendship.
“I started new branches of the National Party in the New England … got all the troops on the ground,” he told ABC New England Breakfast.
Former Nationals senator John “Wacka” Williams believes his friendship with Mr Joyce is over. (ABC TV)
“When Barnaby had the courage to run for New England, they had all the people out there to support him, they manned booths, attended meetings, attended fundraisers.
“These are the people that Barnaby’s left behind, I think that’s an act of treason to the hundreds of thousands of supporters who got him where he was.”
On Thursday, Mr Joyce announced he would leave the party after 30 years, to sit on the crossbench as an independent MP for the seat of New England for the rest of this term.
He also said he remained open to a Senate tilt with One Nation at the next election.
What do voters think?
While other members of the National Party have described Mr Joyce’s move as a betrayal, the feeling on the ground in his electorate is mixed.
Michael McCormack says he knows how Barnaby Joyce feels being on the backbench. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Byron Hubbard from Willow Tree said Mr Joyce’s time with the Nationals had been fraught with drama, and that he had to move his own way.
“He’s always been really direct and said he’s been working for us, and I think he has been … will he have the [same] pull without a party supporting him, I don’t know,” he said.
Byron Hubbard believes Mr Joyce’s time with the Nationals has been filled with drama. (ABC New England: James Paras)
Mr Hubbard said he did not want to see Mr Joyce in the Senate with One Nation.
“Under the One Nation banner, I think he’s going to struggle with just the general democratic election that we have around here, where everyone tends to lean towards a particular party.
“I think he’s got better work to do, I think he’s got better jobs in front of him.”
Party leader David Littleproud said Mr Joyce’s decision broke the “contract” he had made with voters in New England at the 2025 election, while former leader Michael McCormack said it was a “whack” for those who supported Mr Joyce for 20 years.
However, Christine Roser-Whitney said she did not think he needed a party’s support to achieve his political goals.
Christine Roser-Whitney believes Mr Joyce could be successful without the backing of a major party. (ABC New England: James Paras)
“Barnaby’s right to leave, [the coalition] has lost touch of country people, it’s always about the city,” she said.
“If he wants to go with Pauline Hanson, so be it, so long as he’s happy and it’s in line with what his beliefs are.”
Tamworth resident Bruce Russell said it was clear Barnaby Joyce’s relationship with the National Party was beyond repair.
Bruce Russell believes Mr Joyce’s relationship with the National Party has broken down. (ABC New England: James Paras)
“I hope he still looks after this area but he needs to be in power to do that,” he said.
“The coalition is in disarray at the moment … who knows [if he joins One Nation], I still would [vote for him].