![Nationals frontbencher Barnaby Joyce said he made a 'big mistake' in reference to being filmed lying on a Canberra footpath on February 7. Pictures by AAP Image/Mick Tsikas and Sunrise Nationals frontbencher Barnaby Joyce said he made a 'big mistake' in reference to being filmed lying on a Canberra footpath on February 7. Pictures by AAP Image/Mick Tsikas and Sunrise](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/206436302/76ae5ac7-0398-4374-b823-180b2e951a56.png/r0_41_1092_655_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Barnaby Joyce has cited a combination of alcohol with a prescription drug in leading to the February 7 video of him swearing into his phone while lying on a Canberra street.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
The former deputy prime minister told morning television he had "made a big mistake".
"There's no excuse for it, there's a reason," he told Sunrise on February 12.
"It was a very eventful walk home, wasn't it?
"I'm on a prescription drug and they say certain things may happen to you if you drink and they were absolutely 100 per cent right."
![A chalk outline drawn on Lonsdale St, Braddon. Picture by Elesa Kurtz A chalk outline drawn on Lonsdale St, Braddon. Picture by Elesa Kurtz](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/206436302/5e146ef0-b90b-4a58-83c0-31a30c79c38b.jpg/r0_536_7091_4538_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
On the weekend a chalk outline and plaque were added to the scene on Braddon's Lonsdale St, where the Nationals frontbencher was filmed lying on the footpath while talking on the phone.
The plaque commemorates Mr Joyce "being totally f--- a--- drunk that time. 8th Jan 2024".
Mr Joyce said in a statement he was swearing at himself for having fallen over, after the Daily Mail reported he was heard mumbling "dead f---ing c--t" into the phone.
Mr Joyce said he had been sitting on the planter box on the way back to his accommodation when he fell off.
![The plaque added to the Braddon planter box where Mr Joyce was filmed lying on the ground on February 7. Picture by Elesa Kurtz The plaque added to the Braddon planter box where Mr Joyce was filmed lying on the ground on February 7. Picture by Elesa Kurtz](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/206436302/44a662b0-61f4-4eaa-b29b-9206856f0728.jpg/r0_844_8256_5504_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters in Ballarat an explanation was required and a "response of the Liberal and National Party leaders".
"I think people will also think to themselves, what would the response be if that was a minister in my government being seen to be behaving in that way?"
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he would "have a chat" with Mr Joyce in the coming week.
"It's pretty rough when people are walking past somebody who might need support," he told Sky News of the video.
"I understand a chalk mark has been drawn on the footpath. It could only happen in Canberra where all those Greens and Labor staffers are."