Australia has its third transport and infrastructure minister in as many months, after Barnaby Joyce announced on Friday he will resign as leader of the Nationals.
Liberal MP John McVeigh has taken over as interim transport and infrastructure minister, after Joyce announced he will formally hand in his resignation at a party room meeting on Monday.
McVeigh will be the third person to serve as transport and infrastructure minister since December, when Joyce dumped fellow National Darren Chester from the role, so he could take it as his own.
Joyce resigned on Friday amid fresh allegations of sexual harassment from an unnamed WA woman.
The soon-to-be-former deputy prime minister has been at the centre of a storm of allegations and revelations in recent weeks.
His affair last year with then-media adviser Vikki Campion was revealed early in February, and was followed with news of his marriage break-up, and allegations of unfair treatment given to Campion, who worked in other National offices during the early stages of the affair.
Joyce then faced multiple attacks from the Opposition over his recent rent-free living situation in Armidale, and whether he broke the ministerial code of conduct by accepting the accommodation from his friend, local businessman Greg Maguire, during his marriage breakdown.
Joyce denied any plans to step down from the frontbench, until the National Party confirmed it had received a formal sexual harassment complaint on Friday morning.
A press conference was called for 2pm on Friday afternoon, where Joyce denied the allegations, but announced he would resign.
“This current cacophony of issues has to be put aside, and I think it’s my responsibility to do my bit, to make sure that it happens,” he said. “On Monday morning at the party room, I will step down as the leader of the National Party and deputy prime minister.”
Joyce thanked the people of his electorate, New England, saying they had supported him throughout his recent ordeal. “I don’t deserve the support that you’ve given me,” he said.
“It’s incredibly important that there be a circuit-breaker, not just for parliament, but more importantly, a circuit-breaker for Vikki [Campion], for my unborn child, my daughters, and for [wife] Nat. This has got to stop. It’s not fair on them. It’s just completely and utterly unwarranted, the sort of observation that’s happened.”
Joyce also targeted “leakers” within the National Party for contributing to the ongoing drama.
“Any person in any political party always says, the leaking, the backgrounding, all that, it will destroy not only our government, it will destroy any government,” he said.
A statement from the National Party thanked Joyce for his leadership since 2016.
“Barnaby has continued the strong legacy left by his predecessor Warren Truss, and ensured that the millions of hardworking Australians who live outside the major cities actually get the say that they deserve,” the statement said.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also thanked Joyce for his service, and said the news would not derail the coalition between the Liberal and National parties.
“The Coalition between the Liberals and the Nationals is Australia’s most successful political partnership, having endured for more than 95 years,” Turnbull said from the United States. “This partnership is undiminished and will continue to deliver opportunity and security for all Australians.”
Opposition leader Bill Shorten slammed Turnbull for his “atrocious” handling of the situation.
“The fact this scandal has dragged on for 16 days has been damaging to the Government, but more importantly, the country,” Shorten said.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale said Joyce’s resignation was a long-time coming.
“It comes far too late,” Di Natale said, “Barnaby Joyce was dragged kicking and screaming to this decision when he should have made it immediately.”
Veterans affairs minister Michael McCormack is the early favourite to take over as Nationals leader, with David Littleproud, David Gillespie, Darren Chester, Matt Canavan, Andrew Broad, and Bridget McKenzie also among the potential candidates.