FEDERAL Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd had tongues wagging when he told a local radio host he would be putting his hand up if Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce were to step down from his role as Leader of the National Party.
However Mr O’Dowd has quickly backtracked from the comment, and said it was part of a “light-hearted” weekly radio interview.
“There is no vacancy and I will not be putting my name forward if there was” Mr O’Dowd said.
“Leader of the National Party is elected by the party room and at the last leadership ballot, Barnaby was elected unopposed and remains our leader.
“There is no vacancy, simple as that.”
Despite the current controversy revolving around Mr Joyce’s private life, Mr O’Dowd assured he personally had no concern over Mr Joyce’s ability to lead the party.
“As leader of the National Party, Mr Joyce has been instrumental in delivering significant achievements for regional and rural Australia,” Mr O’Dowd said.
“Leadership of the Nationals is a role of significant importance and Mr Joyce has always fought for a better go for regional and rural Australians and he’s always been a big supporter of me and the electorate of Flynn and likewise.”
YOUR OPINION:
We asked you if Mr Joyce should have apologised to the public and his family this morning (read here).
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