Federal opposition finance spokesman Barnaby Joyce says he is determined to continue in his portfolio despite this week's lambasting in parliament.
Senator Joyce's comments that Australia may not be able to repay its debt sparked controversy, with party colleagues forced to clarify the remarks and Labor attacking the coalition's economic credentials.
One MP, who later apologised, likened him to serial killer Ivan Milat in terms of his recklessness.
Speaking on ABC Radio on Friday, Senator Joyce said he wanted to keep his job and any change would be up to voters.
"I've been given the job of finance and I will continue in the job of finance," he said.
"There's no guarantees of anything ... When you are elected to office the people who are your ultimate master are the people in the tile and brick and weatherboard and iron."
He said that in criticising the government's debt levels he was espousing the views of average voters who believed that long-term debt was unsustainable.
"Parliament House can at times be a peculiar place," he said.
"It develops its own culture. You have 4700 people locked up in a building and they run around talking to each other ... and all of a sudden a certain view is espoused ... but it's not the view that is held in Coorparoo and it's not the view that is held in Longreach."
He said the criticism had kept him humble.
"I am an accountant and I look at the debt and go: `This just can't go on'," he said.
"If somebody doesn't tell the emperor that possibly they are really starting to trim down the clothes, then you are not doing the right thing by the people who come after you."
Share
