Barnaby Joyce Re-elected as Nationals Leader & Deputy Prime Minister

Well it has happened and he has been sworn in by the governor. So regardless of anything good or bad, he is where he is. Fact.

It has caused quite a media & social media swirl but much of it is made more difficult because there's overlap between the political outcomes going forward and the controversy that lay in the past.

On the political side...

• There is the outcomes he may push in the climate change repsonse space
  
  
• There is his support for the Sri Lankan family stuck in detention & wanting them to be allowed to remain in Australia whilst the Government looks to expel them
  
  
• His support for Live Export has been second to none & we can assume that will continue and he'll likely be very pro Regional Australia & Agriculture.
  
  
• His support for the coal industry and wider mining industry which supplies jobs for regional people.
  
  
• He has his likely clash points with the Prime Minister & the cabinet, but his maverick days of crossing the floor are probably passed to a large extent as the numbers are so tight it could be too divisive politically now that we're probably less than 12 months away from a Federal Election
  
  
• He probably could potentially lead to winning of a number of Queensland seats which will probably be crucial to Scott Morrison retaining Government but there's also the theory amongst some he could help deliver some inner city seats to opposing parties. Both theories
  

On the controversy side...

• He lost his seat when it was found he had some NZ ancestery and hadn't renounced the inferred citizenry. He renounced and was re-elected.
  
  
• He had what we know to be referred to as "sexual harassment" allegations made against him within the internal system of the NSW Nationals. It was leaked much to the very unfair detriment of the complainant & Mr Joyce. The actual details of the allegations weren't made public, nor was the leaker's identity made known. Fair to assume its more likely someone trying to "get" Mr Joyce not the complainant. No resolution was reached and no civil or criminal legal action taken. As a result some are wise to be very careful about commenting on the allegations as Mr Joyce has described them as defamatory. I don't know if they are or not but I would be very careful commenting on the allegations as it may result in a defamation case some day if someone is a little loose with their words. The matter remains unresolved, no litigation is or has been in play and the NSW Nationals have levelled it as unresolved.
  
  
• The news of an affair with a staff member created quite a storm. It also began calls for a ban on relations between people in the Parliamentary workplace. The fact that one was a staff member working for a powerful politician was not lost on many people.

It seems still the case that Barnaby Joyce is still regarded as the real Retail Politician and has the ability that some commentators call "cut though" and this probably still is the case. What's certainly the case is that Barnaby is polarising. Views people hold are very much for or against. Indifference is rare. Some are because they're not from Conservative side of politics and Joyce possesses equal measures of political opportunity & political threat.

Some will still pursue him with a sense of justice and/or political motivation. People can make up their own mind if they want to do that or not. Everyone can make their own decisions & judgements. As for the alleged victim, I haven't heard what she wants done to Barnaby Joyce but some others have decided to pursue him. I hope this doesn't add to the alleged victim's angst having been dragged through the press to often already.

There are 2 things that stick uncomfortably close to one another. One is some strongly feel justice must be done, that is Mr Joyce must recieve some grave penalty vs the fact the allegations went the full distance within the NSW Nationals and no outcome was possible.  The other is as this is unresolved, possibly unresolvable, quandry exists that some will continue to pursue him without launching a court case. To repeat I don't know what the actual allegations were (and don't want to know) but they may be such that a legal pursuit is likely to prove fruitless. If that is the case, pursuing a person via the town square (Media or Social Media) and not the courts is a very dangerous path to tread. 
It could get messy & others have suggested, someone might get pursued for defamation & damages.

There are 2 important closing points (for now)...

1) Many are hoping for good outcomes for regional Australia now Barnaby Joyce is Deputy Prime Minister. So again people should be advised to be very careful commenting on the allegations. That's not "Stay Silenced" its much simpler. Allegations were made, nothing has actually been proven, this is Australia, you are innocent until proven guilty. Add to that the actual details of the alelgations have never been made public. By all means, have a view, share it if you wish but be mindful what & how you say it. The allegations were described as "defamatory" by one of the stakeholders. Be mindful of the old saying that goes "Unless you're prepared to write it, sign your name to it, stand up in court & repeat it...maybe don't say it"

2) Some have made calls for the new DPM to "now rebuild trust". It was never explained whether thats trust in political outcomes or trust as in personal behaviour or both. But if you make those calls you're going to have to publicly state at some point IF he has rebuilt trust or has blown it. He claims to be a better person, perhaps he is and there'll be nothing but good political outcomes. Maybe he'll have another fall from grace, but those calling him to rebuild trust will have to pipe up one way or the other. They made the call, they will have to write regular score cards. They can't hold off waiting for another controversy and then fly in to behead him. If you call for him to be good, better, best you better call out when he is any of those things. We'll see.

Considering that the vote numbers in the federal Nationals Spill Meeting will never be made public but was probably very close, his tenure as DPM & Party Leader will remain under a microscope on a knife edge. It can only be strengthened by solid political performance, gains for the regions and no personal life controversy. My guess perhaps hope is its head down & tail up for Barnaby Joyce. How his political future goes, how long it goes for is really up solely to him.

Its very sad someone may have gone through an alleged incident/s that required a report being lodged with the NSA Nationals.
Its sadder still that no resolution one way or the other was acheivable. 
Its made worse that unless allegations go to the next level there's probably no chance of a suitable resolution for the alleged victim or accused and that the spectre hangs there & is brought up regularly.

Politically, the regions may get a win in the future with the cut through prowess of the "Retail Politician".|

For all involved within the allegation side of things...there are no winners. None.