Coalition frontbencher James Paterson has scoffed at One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce’s demand the Victorian senator show more decorum on the campaign trail after an altercation between Paterson and a volunteer for the minor party.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson initially apologised to Paterson after her volunteer snatched the senator’s phone during an argument at a polling booth on Wednesday, but Joyce leapt to the volunteer’s defence, saying Paterson goaded the man.
“This is not the decorum that is expected of a senator for Victoria… You should reflect on the fact that that gentleman’s paying your $300,000 wage, and you should be treating [him] with a bit more respect and not baiting him,” Joyce said on Sky TV on Thursday.
Paterson hit back later that day.
“It’s nice Barnaby has got off the footpath in Canberra to give others lectures about decorum, but he’s literally the last member of parliament I would take advice from on how to conduct myself,” Paterson told this masthead.
In February 2024, Joyce, then a Nationals MP, took leave from federal parliament after he was filmed lying on a footpath late at night mumbling obscenities into his phone.
Joyce said at the time he had made “a big mistake” having a drink at a function while on prescription medication.
The contest for Farrer has ratcheted up tensions between the conservative parties – who are preferencing each other ahead of the independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe – as One Nation surges in the polls and eats into traditional Coalition votes. The rural seat has been held by the Liberals or Nationals for its 77-year history.
Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie predicted on Thursday that One Nation would seize the seat that was held by former opposition leader Sussan Ley for 25 years.
“I think all the money is on One Nation. I think this is going to be a really tough fight for us. We’ve got low expectations,” the opposition industry spokesman told 2GB.
Hanson, her chief of staff James Ashby, and candidate David Farley initially apologised to Paterson over the polling booth altercation but reversed course the next day.
“I’m standing by my volunteer in that whole scuffle. When I first heard about it, I was just about to go on air with Chris Kenny, and I didn’t get the full story,” Hanson told reporters in Albury, where she had just flown in on her new private plane.
“I tell you, I’m going to meet that volunteer, and I’m going to shake his hand and I’m going to stand by him,” she said.
Ashby told Sky News Paterson needed a “kick up the backside” after “rage-baiting” a pensioner.
Ashby said later he had not seen the footage when he checked on Paterson’s wellbeing on Wednesday following reports of a scuffle.
“Once I was able to review the footage Senator Paterson had personally filmed and provided TV networks, it became obvious that the Liberal senator had deliberately provoked the response from the pensioner,” he said in a statement.
The polling booth clash erupted over this masthead’s revelation that Farley, a former Nationals member, had previously attempted to stand for the Labor Party and supported independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe at last year’s election. Senior One Nation figures fear that Farley might defect from the party if elected.
Paterson said earlier on Thursday that One Nation’s contradictory responses to the polling booth altercation reflected broader party disunity.
“Something’s going on in One Nation. I know they’ve contradicted each other many times on policy over the last few weeks, with David Farley advocating for higher immigration and increased foreign aid funding contrary to One Nation’s policies, but now they’re contradicting each other on apologies as well,” Paterson told Sky News.
“I know James Ashby was speaking figuratively when he said I need a kick up the backside, but I really hope none of the One Nation volunteers take that literally because the last thing we need is violence on polling booths in Australia.”
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Brittany Busch is a federal politics reporter for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.