House debates

Wednesday, 26 February 2014

Bills

Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Amendment (Dairy Produce) Bill 2014; Second Reading

11:29 am

Photo of Barnaby JoyceBarnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Hansard source

I certainly have, but I have never resigned from my party. You have never crossed the floor. You are not allowed to. In the Labor Party you are not allowed to cross the floor. They take away the right to do that. They do not believe in your freedom to actually express your views. They always believe they are the agent provocateurs, the rebels, but you always have to do exactly what you are told.

We continue to fight on behalf of the issues of people in regional areas and people in the agricultural sector. I choose to do it from where the battle can be won or lost, which is in the room with the people who actually make the decisions. I do not think it is an act of bravery to remove yourself from the field of engagement and stand on the sidelines as an Independent.

Comments

Andrew JACKSON
Posted on 27 Feb 2014 5:18 pm

Barnaby Joyce may have given the appearance of crossing the floor a few times in years gone past but those days are long gone. He now represents Cabinet not his electorate. Cabinet is his master not the people of New England.

He is correct that ALP members are slaves to their party. The ALP still believes that it has the right to direct its members how to vote. Whist it may no longer be shouted publically "That I am not too proud to be directed" (Duggan 1957) direction is still there and endorsement disappears when independence is declared.

Andrew Jackson
apjackson@hotkey.net.au