Fed: I'll seek Nats leadership when time's right: Joyce

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2009
Fed: I'll seek Nats leadership when time's right: Joyce

CANBERRA, Aug 9 AAP - Maverick Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce says he will seek
the leadership of his party - when the time is right.

Asked if he would seek a lower house seat in a bid for the leadership of the country-based
party, Senator Joyce did not rule out that prospect.

"I always try to be honest and I have an interest when the time arises," he told Network
Ten on Sunday.

But for now, he is backing Nationals leader Warren Truss, who also hails from Queensland.

"He's the safest set of hands we've got there at the moment," Senator Joyce said.

"Yeah, I think he does have more experience than me.

"I truly believe he's one of the most confident people we've got."

Senator Joyce had earlier planned to challenge independent MP Tony Windsor in the northern
NSW seat of New England, where he grew up.

But he decided against that prospect in January, given the strong popularity of Mr
Windsor, a former Nationals Party member.

Mr Windsor holds the New England electorate with a margin of more than 20 per cent,
having garnered nearly 62 per cent of the primary vote at the 2007 election.

The Nationals candidate polled just 23 per cent first preference votes.

AAP saj/jfm/cdh

KEYWORD: JOYCE

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.