New England voters divided by Barnaby Joyce's flirtation with One Nation

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Voters in Barnaby Joyce's electorate are unfazed by his decision not to recontest the seat of New England at the next election. Some say they would continue to support the "good, if sometimes controversial" local member, while others argue a potential move to One Nation could be a poor decision.

Transcript

00:00Voters here want to know what Barnaby Joyce's next move will be.

00:05The former Deputy Prime Minister has held on to the New England seat for the past 12 years,

00:10solidifying the North West of New South Wales as a national stronghold.

00:14A testament to his popularity, he won more than 50% of the primary vote at this year's election,

00:19including a small swing towards him.

00:21Some voters remain unfazed of a potential defection to One Nation,

00:25saying that they will still support him.

00:27He is controversial sometimes, he says what he thinks,

00:31and that's going to get a bit of reaction from people,

00:34but I don't mind a bit of controversy.

00:36If he wants to go and join One Nation,

00:38if he sees that as his option, I don't have a problem with that.

00:41He's outspoken, he's got strong views, he knows how to talk.

00:46He does a good representation for the New England and the farmers,

00:51whether it gives him more of a voice by leaving the nationals good on him.

00:54But a strong personal vote isn't enough to win over everybody.

00:58He's been elected to represent this area,

01:01and he is choosing his own career over the representation of this area.

01:07I don't think that's adequate.

01:08Someone said to me they could put up a pumpkin for the nationals and they would have got in.

01:13Pauline Hanson's One Nation party won 10% of the New England primary vote,

01:18relaunching their New England sub-branch in Tamworth over the weekend.

01:22Getting Barnaby Joyce to join their ranks could keep that momentum going.

01:25Get momentum going.

01:26Get momentum going.

01:27Get momentum going.

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