Former Australian Deputy PM Joins One Nation Party

Australia's former Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, has joined the anti-immigration party One Nation. He has left the opposition Nationals, of which he once served as leader.

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Dec 8, 2025 - 11:31

Former Australian Deputy PM Joins One Nation Party

Australia's former Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, has joined the anti-immigration party One Nation. He has left the opposition Nationals, of which he once served as leader.

Joyce confirmed his departure on Monday on his local radio station in Tamworth, 400 km (250 miles) north of Sydney, ending months of speculation and saying it might "offend" some people.

A well-known figure in local politics, Joyce has long been associated with the Nationals, which represents rural and regional communities, and has served as leader several times.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson – whose popularity has surged in recent polls – said the two intend to "transform this country to make it great again."

Hanson, who launched the party in 1997, said, "I'm delighted he has chosen One Nation, and I welcome his experience, his advice, and his determination to find the right path for farmers and regional Australia." Hanson said Joyce, who is currently the Member for New England in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), will represent One Nation in the Lower House until the next federal election, after which he will run as a One Nation candidate for the Senate.

In a Facebook post explaining his decision, Joyce criticized several policies, saying Australia had "killed our energy platform in a futile attempt to change the climate."

He wrote that Australia's population growth through immigration has "eroded the ability for Australians to buy homes, raise families, and grow our population in their own way."

Regarding culture, he said: "A country can have many religions, races, and colors, but not many cultures. Australia must unite around a common goal, under one Australian culture, to prevail in this uncertain world."

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Nationals leader David Littleproud said he was disappointed by Joyce's decision to join "a protest party that never achieves anything other than headlines." The Nationals are the junior partner in the coalition with the conservative Liberals, and their coalition represents the federal opposition.

Just two weeks earlier, Joyce had dinner with Hanson in her parliamentary office, where the two shared a meal of steak and salad.

Hours earlier, Hanson had controversially entered Parliament wearing a burqa, part of her years-long campaign to ban Muslim clothing.

His actions were criticized by fellow senators, and one of his colleagues later formally condemned him, accusing him of "blatant racism."

Joyce has long been a key member of the Nationals—first as a Senator for Queensland from 2004 to 2013, then as the Member for New England in New South Wales.

He has held the regional seat for over a decade, with a brief pause in 2017 when he was one of the Australian leaders embroiled in a dual citizenship scandal.

In 2016, he became party leader and Deputy Prime Minister, but was forced to resign in 2018 following public pressure over an extramarital affair with a staff member.

Following this scandal, the then Prime Minister implemented a "bonk ban," prohibiting leaders and staff from having sex with each other.

In 2015, Joyce made global headlines after a public altercation with actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, when the then-Hollywood couple attempted to smuggle their pet dogs into Australia on their private jet, violating strict quarantine laws.

The incident sparked a war of words between Joyce and celebrities, with Joyce once threatening to kill two Yorkshire terriers.

Last month, Joyce announced that he would not seek re-election to his seat, sparking weeks of speculation about his political future.

And in recent weeks, the combative leader has also stopped attending Nationals party room meetings, effectively signaling his intentions.

"I don't think it's right for them, or for me, because obviously you find out about private conversations," Joyce said.

"They might want to have private conversations about me."

In 2016, Hanson was criticized for her maiden speech in the Australian Senate, in which she stated that the country was in danger of being "overrun by Muslims."

This echoed her controversial maiden speech in the House of Representatives in 1996, in which she warned that the country was in danger of being "overrun by Asians."