Nationals leader David Littleproud confirmed Mr. Joyce will be spending time with his family.
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce will be taking a week off Parliament in the aftermath of a recent incident where he was found lying on a footpath.
The former deputy prime minister was filmed sprawled on the ground in a suit yelling expletives in Canberra in February while talking on the phone after a late parliamentary sitting.
Following this incident, Mr. Joyce revealed he would be giving up drinking for lent after admitting he made a “big mistake” and there was “no excuse for it.”
Nationals leader David Littleproud revealed during an interview with the Today Show on Feb. 26 that Mr. Joyce will be taking leave this parliamentary sitting week.
“He won’t be here this week. He’s notified me that he won’t be coming to Parliament, Mr. Littleproud said.
“He’s having the week off, which we gave him the opportunity to undertake with his family. And I respect that. And I hope, hope he went to church yesterday and all he had was altar wine.
Mr. Joyce was filmed on Lonsdale Street Canberra on Feb. 7 saying “dead [expletive] [expletive]” in a
Daily Mail video widely published in the media.
Soon after the incident, Mr. Joyce explained a combination of medication and alcohol had led to him being found in that state in Canberra.
“There is a reason, and 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 percent right,” Mr.
Joyce said.
“For me, the good Samaritan was the Indian taxi driver who pulled over as I was walking home and said, ‘Do you need a lift, mate?’ Which I obviously did.”
Labor Ministers Said Joyce Needs Support
Labor Ministers expressed Mr. Joyce needed support and help rather than a partisan political attack on him.
“I’ve just seen the footage very briefly. I think Mr. Joyce needs support. He certainly doesn’t need a Labor politician piling in in a partisan manner,”
Mr. Shorten said.
“I don’t know what’s happened there. I’m not about to join in on any sort of lynch mob. About what’s happened and what hasn’t. I think he needs support. That’s what he’s seeking.”
In addition Finance Minister Katy Gallagher she hoped he “gets the help he needs” because it’s a “very unusual position for someone of that age to be in.”
“Look, I think it’s just incredibly sad. I hope he gets the help that he needs. Obviously, there’s an issue there. And you know, these things do nothing for the profession of politicians,”
Ms. Gallagher said.
“I think it confirms you know, in people’s minds, the public’s minds, negative association with politics, and I think that’s a real shame.”
Call for Alcohol and Drug Testing
Independent “teal” parliamentarian Zali Steggall has now called for random alcohol and drug testing at Parliament House.
“The privilege of being in Parliament does not outweigh the benefit of random alcohol and drug testing to ensure a safe and respectful workplace,” Ms. Steggall
posted on X.
Nationals deputy leader Perin Davey admitted having two glasses of red wine before a Senate committee in February, leading to her stumbling over words.
