'I know what it takes to have a successful marriage': McCormack’s swipe at Joyce

Nationals leader Michael McCormack has responded to Barnaby Joyce's claim he is still the "elected deputy prime minister".

Barnaby Joyce says the government must promise to fund a new coal fired power station in central Queensland. Source: AAP

Nationals leader Michael McCormack has made a veiled reference to Barnaby Joyce's failed marriage further exposing divisions in the Nationals. 

Mr Joyce sensationally declared he remains the "elected deputy prime minister of Australia" on ABC radio, and the Nationals were "not married" to its Coalition partners, the Liberal Party. 

Mr McCormack hit back on Monday. 

"I understand that when you have a marriage it's a two way relationship... I understand that, I understand what it takes to have a successful marriage," Mr McCormack told reporters on Monday.

Nationals MPs are reportedly agitating to remove leader Michael McCormack before the election. Source: AAP

 

Mr Joyce was forced to resign as Nationals leader and deputy prime minister due to a scandal in his personal life. 

He's made no secret of the fact that he wants the job back. 

While he said he had no plans to bring on a leadership spill, he said he would not hesitate to nominate if one happened. 

"I am the elected deputy prime minister of Australia so I'd have no guilt at all, at standing but I don't see that happening." 

In a testy interview on Monday morning, Mr Joyce called for the government to underwrite a new coal-fired power station in central Queensland, adding to pressure on Mr McCormack over energy policy. 

However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not expect any change to the Coalition's leadership team. 

"We have a fantastic leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister in Michael McCormack and there'll be no change to that," Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney.  

While Mr McCormack has said he is "not against" coal projects, he said they must stack up financially.

Mr Joyce was adamant the business case for a new coal-fired power station stacked up. 

"I want us to build one," Mr Joyce told ABC radio. "I don't want us to (engage in a) 'how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?' argument at the moment because people are suffering because of it." 

The New South Wales backbencher said the interests of people in central Queensland were more important than concerns it would cost the Coalition votes in southern states. 

"We are not married to the Liberal Party." 

Mr Joyce's call comes after six Queensland Nationals rebels demanded the federal government fund a coal-fired station in their state.

'Forget night footy'

Mr McCormack, who is under internal pressure to take stronger action on energy, said pensioners would only suffer if Labor's policy on renewables and climate change was adopted. 

He argued pensioners would be "shivering all winter" and "melting all summer" if Labor wins the election and legislates a 45 per cent emissions reduction target.

Barnaby Joyce says he's not canvassing numbers for a challenge against Michael McCormack but will stand if a spill is called. Source: AAP

"I mean sure, go down that path, but forget night footy, forget night cricket," he said.

"You'll have pensioners turning off their power because they won't be able to afford it, and they'll be shivering all winter, and they'll be melting all summer."

Meanwhile, Mr Joyce said the Morrison government had thrown billions of dollars at Snowy Hydro 2.0 and should do the same with a coal-fired plant in Queensland.

"I am not a fanatic for any form of power except the one that is proven cheapest. At this point of time, we live in this mythology that (renewables) are going to get cheaper," Mr Joyce said.

"Well, the absolute test of that is the consumer, and their power bills are not going down."

Additional reporting: AAP