A clutch of high-profile independent candidates are challenging moderate Liberals in inner-city seats,campaigning in part on the need for greater climate action and linking the Nationals to the government’s lagging record. The Nationals-held seat of Nicholls also has a strong independent candidate,Rob Priestly,while regional seats Kennedy and Indi have been in crossbench hands for several terms.
Joyce said these independents were “selfish” because they relied on voters in most seats sticking with political parties who could form government and get on with day-to-day political process.
“It’s also fundamentally dishonest. Because they never disclose which side they would support if a vote came down to them,” Joyce said.
“The thought that they don’t actually know at this stage of a campaign,which political side would get their casting vote in a hung parliament,is totally implausible.”
But when asked whether he show the same transparency he’s demanding of independent candidates and would allowthe coalition agreement between the Liberals and Nationals to be made public,Joyce said point blank:No.
“In my discussions to get the best deal for regional Australia,I don’t want to have to ventilate every iteration,every nuance day by day in the media,” he said,before going on to describe the agreement document as “rather unremarkable”.
And when pushed on whether he would seek a veto right over any negotiations between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and crossbenchers in the event of a hung parliament,Joyce said that was only hypothetical – although he didn’t expect to be party to any such negotiations.