BARNABY Joyce’s replacement has come to the defence of the New England MP.
Senator Barry O’Sullivan said Mr Joyce should be praised by his constituents after a successful start in New England.
“When your paper went to print, Mr Joyce was returning from the Middle East where he was making efforts to restore and further develop live exports to that region,” he said.
“Those exports contribute enormously to the economic welfare of our nation and the farm gate profitability of rural communities.”
Senator O’Sullivan said the people of New England, along with the nation, had been the beneficiaries of Mr Joyce’s efforts.
“My support for Barnaby is not confirmation that he has not been in New England, it is more to say that when he has not been in New England he has been getting on with the difficult task of delivering policies that focus on farm gate profitability and liveability in regional and rural communities,” he said.
“Barnaby is one of our country’s most senior Cabinet ministers in the government and I am certain that he is finding the right balance between his duties as a local federal member and his role for the nation.
“This is a bloke who can do two things at once.”
