Barnaby Joyce Resigns as Nationals Leader as Parliament Wraps for the Year
Canberra – In a dramatic final sitting day of the year, Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce announced his resignation, prompting a leadership contest within the party. The move came amidst a lively Question Time session where Labor faced intense scrutiny over rising power prices.
Simultaneously occurring, Brisbane MP Madonna Jarrett continued a parliamentary tradition by delivering an original christmas poem, “Nine Newbies from Queensland,” taking over the role from colleague Josh Burns. The poem reflected on the experiences of nine newly elected Queensland Labor MPs – Rennee, Ali, Kara, Jules, Emma, Corrinne, Rohan, and Matt – during thier first year in Canberra.
Jarrett’s poem detailed the challenges and successes of the new MPs, from navigating the initial chaos of Parliament to witnessing the government’s legislative achievements. The poem highlighted key policy initiatives including reductions in HECs debt and assistance with home deposits, free healthcare provisions, tax cuts, home battery schemes, wage growth, inflation control, and job creation, contrasting them with opposition criticisms regarding net zero targets.
The poem concluded with a hopeful outlook for the future, expressing gratitude for the support received and anticipation for a similarly successful 2026.
