THE election of former mining lobbyist Larry Anthony to the role of president of The Nationals will have no bearing on his chance of re-election, New England MP Barnaby Joyce said yesterday.
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The Nationals’ deputy leader dismissed suggestions that Mr Anthony’s controversial ascent to the influential role played into the hands of former independent MP Tony Windsor, who has indicated he may consider running in the seat again.
Mr Anthony was elected president at the weekend, but not without concerns from those within The Nationals’ ranks that his former role in lobbying for Shenhua’s coal mine on the Liverpool Plains may harm Mr Joyce’s bid for re-election.
Adding to the drama of the weekend was the withdrawal of support for Mr Anthony by the man who nominated him in the first place: NSW Nationals chairman and Tamworth farmer Bede Burke.
In the end, though, federal director Scott Mitchell, closely aligned with Nationals leader Warren Truss, intervened to declare Mr Anthony’s candidacy was still valid, creating further acrimony within the party’s ranks.
Mr Joyce emphasised, though, that his role as MP and that of Mr Anthony were entirely separate, one having no bearing on the other.
Mr Anthony, for his part, said he felt far bigger issues were at play and that his former role would have no impact on the outcome of the next election.
Mr Joyce also re-emphasised his opposition to the Watermark open-cut coal mine yesterday, saying he had done so since 2009.
“I’ve clearly stated my views on this issue ... I do not support Shenhua, (for the reason) that it is absurd to have a mine on the best agricultural land in Australia,” he said.
