As Member for Riverina Michael McCormack continues to be touted as the possible replacement for embattled Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, it appears many voters have been left cold by the whole scandal.
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At the same time as the Nationals’ federal MPs were deciding on whether to postpone a party room meeting originally scheduled for next Monday, Wagga voters shared their views with The Daily Advertiser.
Opinions varied from support for Mr Joyce in his “private matter” to the feeling he should resign, but the possibility of Member for Riverina Michael McCormack replacing the embattled Mr Joyce excited very little response.
Bill Curtis and Pauline Keating, who were shopping in Wagga on Tuesday, were firmly of the view that the issue of Mr Joyce’s relationship with a former staffer, who is now pregnant, was “none of our business”, so there was no need to discuss him being replaced by Mr McCormack.
“His (Mr Joyce’s) private life is his private life,” Ms Keating said.
He’s not the first politician to have done it,” Mr Curtis said.
“They should be worrying about more important stuff, like the cost of electricity and gas.”
Students Claire Donoley, Rhiannon Thompson and MacKenzie Hesketh said they had no interest in the Joyce scandal or Mr McCormack’s possible elevation, and little interest in politics generally.
Margaret Menzies felt that Mr Joyce being singled out was, in some cases, “the pot calling the kettle black”.
“I don’t think he should have done it, but why don’t they leave him alone,” Ms Menzies said.
“He wouldn’t be the only one to have done it.”
But Daniel Frazier from Lockhart believes Mr Joyce is “in big trouble”.
“They’re not doing themselves any good,” Mr Frazier said.
“He probably should resign.”
But Mr Frazier said he couldn’t say whether Mr McCormack should take over the leadership, or whether he would make a good leader.
Likewise, Serena Vincent of Wagga believed Mr Joyce “needs to own up and leave”, but she had no opinion on whether Mr McCormack should replace him.
“I don’t care who replaces him. But Barnaby needs to go,” she said.