Barnaby Joyce Says Christian Porter Should Be Given Another Chance And No Thanks
Let's not forget Joyce was also moved to the backbench in 2018 after sexual harassment allegations.
Barnaby Joyce has defended Christian Porter a day after his resignation, hinting at the disgraced former Attorney General’s return to the frontbench in the future. “Mr Porter has not done anything illegal. If he had, police would be here,” the deputy PM said on Monday.
Porter left his position as Minister for Industry and Science the day before, after accepting a large anonymous donation for a ceased legal case against the ABC over historic sexual assault allegations (Porter strenuously denies these allegations).
He maintains he didn’t breach his ministerial standards by taking and declaring the hefty funds and will stay on the backbench as the member for Pearce in WA — a seat he plans to recontest in the next federal election.
“My own recommendation is that he is an incredibly capable politician,” Joyce continued, saying he believes Porter “should be given another chance at some future time in a senior role”. “This has not been a good day at the wicket for him, there is no denying that.”
Barnaby Joyce has had his own time out of the limelight, spending three years in the backbench after facing his own allegation of sexual harassment in 2018. He rose the ranks back up to second-in-command in June, after the Nationals party booted out Michael McCormack.”I don’t walk away from making sure that I can be a better person and do a better job,” he reflected at the time.
“[He’ll] have a bit of time on your hands but you can use it effectively, and I’m sure he will,” said Joyce about Porter’s similar situation. Porter has also received support from Employment Minister Stuart Robert, sympathising that the last year has been “heartbreaking” for the former Attorney General.
Joyce is currently serving as Acting Prime Minister while Scott Morrison is in States as part of the ‘Quad’ summit between the two countries, Japan and India.