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Mark McGowan doubles down on Peter Dutton attack, sideswipes Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce

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Bethany HiattThe West Australian
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Mark McGowan has taken a sideswipe at Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.
Camera IconMark McGowan has taken a sideswipe at Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce. Credit: The West Australian

Mark McGowan has not only doubled down on his criticism of likely new Federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton as an “extremist” who is “not that smart”, but has also taken a sideswipe at Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.

The Premier on Sunday said that if the Nationals choose Barnaby Joyce as leader when the party meets on Monday, that would provide a big boost to the newly-elected Federal Labor government.

And he said he had not changed his mind on Mr Dutton since his scathing attack last week, adding that he did not believe selecting him as leader of the Liberals would honour the outcome of the Federal election.

“It’s up to the Liberal Party who they choose, but I don’t think it’s recognising the election outcome if they select Mr Dutton,” he said.

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“If they want to select Mr Dutton, I suspect it’s good for the government. And if they want to select Mr Joyce, I suspect that’s great for the government.”

“I totally support Barnaby Joyce as leader of the National party by the way, I think that’s a great outcome.”

But Mr McGowan refused to expand further on his thoughts about Mr Joyce’s fitness for the role of Nationals leader.

Two challengers have emerged to try to topple Mr Joyce as Nationals leader — former agriculture minister David Littleproud and Gippsland MP Darren Chester.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, February, Thursday 13, 2020. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING
Camera IconGippsland MP Darren Chester will try to topple Mr Joyce as Nationals leader. Credit: MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE

Asked who else the Liberal party should choose as leader, if not Mr Dutton, when a ballot is held on Monday, Mr McGowan said that was not up to him.

“I don’t know, it’s a matter for the Liberal Party — its really not my call, I just called it as I saw it,” he said.

“I just don’t really think he’s that appealing, that’s all. I probably was a bit too honest last week, but if they want to select him, I think it’s probably good for my side and if they want to keep Mr Joyce, I think that’s probably pretty good for my side as well.”

In his huge spray last week, Mr McGowan labelled the Liberal Party — at State and Federal level — a “fringe group”, saying it had abandoned “mainstream” Australians and was controlled by “extremist factional powerbrokers”.

But he reserved his strongest criticism for Mr Dutton, the former defence minister, who reportedly has the numbers to become the new Federal Liberal leader.

“He’s an extremist, I don’t think he fits with modern Australia at all,” Mr McGowan said at the time.

“He doesn’t seem to listen and he’s extremely conservative. I actually don’t think he’s that smart. I’ve seen him present on things, I don’t really pick up that there is much there.”

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