Why Barnaby Joyce won’t be acting PM next week
Embattled Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is taking a week of personal leave next week and will not serve as acting prime minister while Malcolm Turnbull is visiting the United States next week, the prime minister has just announced.
The last-minute announcement comes after a week of intense scrutiny on Joyce, after his affair with former media advisor Vikki Campion and breakdown of his marriage was revealed by The Daily Telegraph.
“The deputy prime minister will be taking leave from 19 February to Sunday 25 February and accordingly will not be able to be Acting Prime Minister while I'm overseas," Mr Turnbull told parliament at the start of Question Time on Thursday.
With foreign minister Julie Bishop overseas, the government's Senate leader Mathias Cormann will be acting Prime Minister next week.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten immediately asked if the announcement meant "that the Deputy Prime Minister cannot do his job? Or are we simply meant to believe it's all a big coincidence?"
Mr Turnbull dismissed that question and replied that "the Deputy Prime Minister is on leave next week".
Labor has ramped up pressure on the PM to sack his deputy over a “gift” of free accommodation. Joyce has consistently denied he breached ministerial rules.