What happens at next week’s Farrer by-election will determine if One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce recontests his long-held seat of New England at the 2028 federal election, the veteran MP says.
Mr Joyce revealed plans to quit the Lower House and run for the Senate instead when he defected from the Nationals to One Nation last year.
The populist party has a stronger record in the Senate, with leader Pauline Hanson first elected three decades ago.
But with One Nation tipped to be a frontrunner in the Farrer by-election, Mr Joyce said on Sunday he could try to hold onto New England.
Veteran MP Barnaby Joyce defected to from The Nationals to One Nation last year. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
“If it looks … like we’re going to get a large, a reasonable number of House of Representatives seats, then of course, the party, which I’m a part of, will no doubt make the request that I stand for New England, because we have to have some oversight and some process to make sure we look like a professional, diligent outfit in the House of Representatives,” he told Sky’s Sunday Agenda.
“Because otherwise you’re just going to have a range of people who have never been there before.
“And it’s not their fault, it’s just that’s a tenuous approach.
“If that is not the case, then we continue with Plan A, which is stand for the Senate.”
Mr Joyce also said One Nation would be willing to join forces with the Coalition to oust Labor in 2028.
He said his party would not seek ministerial appointments but would want input on policy in return.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has repeatedly shut down prospects of an expanded Coalition to include One Nation but the Liberal Party has preferenced it above Farrer independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe.
The vote is expected to be a race between Ms Milthorpe and One Nation’s David Farley.
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