Barnaby Joyce has announced his resignation as Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Australia National Party during a press conference on Friday, Feb. 23.
Joyce told reporters gathered in Armidale — the rural town in Joyce’s electorate of New England about 485 km (300 miles) northeast of Sydney — that he will step down as the leader of the National Party on Monday. Joyce said he will move to the backbench, safeguarding the Turnbull government’s one-seat majority. The decision comes following weeks of pressure over his controversial affair with former media secretary Vikki Campion.
