News
Barnaby Joyce resigns as Deputy Prime Minister
Barnaby Joyce has stepped down as leader of the Nationals and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia in a press conference held at Armidale at 2pm today.
The pressure had been mounting for two weeks ever since his affair with a former staff member Vikki Campion, who is now pregnant with his child, was exposed.
A move to the backbench means Joyce gives up the portfolios of Infrastructure and Transport and his salary would drop from $416,000 to about $200,000 a year.
The new National Party leader will become deputy prime minister under the Coalition agreement.
The person most likely tipped to become National leaders is Veterans Affairs Minister Michael McCormack.