ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals backbencher Barnaby Joyce has surfaced in Yemen after weeks off the grid, having reportedly taken up arms against the Saudi-led coalition and assumed the name “Barnak Bin Al-Joyce.”
Joyce’s decision to flee to the Middle East follows a bitter Nationals party room ruling that banned him from campaigning freely in New England, with leader David Littleproud demanding strict oversight on his movements. Sources inside the party say they were concerned Joyce would go rogue and “cause problems.”
Instead, he’s gone rogue and caused problems in an entirely different hemisphere.
Military sources confirm Joyce is now a key figure in the Houthi resistance, credited with coordinating guerrilla attacks against Saudi-backed forces, personally blowing up bridges, and using American-made Javelin missiles to take out enemy tanks.
“He’s a natural at this,” said one Yemeni fighter.
“Barnak has an instinct for destruction.”
Footage aired on Al Jazeera shows Joyce in flowing robes, standing beside a burning Saudi aircraft, holding a belt-fed machine gun.
Former colleagues say they’re not surprised.
“You tell Barnaby he’s not allowed to campaign and this is what happens,” said one retiring Nationals MP from Warialda.
“Now he’s lobbing RPGs instead of policy proposals. I’ve heard he’s killed like 60 people.”
The federal government has remained silent, though Defence officials are reportedly “monitoring the situation.”
Meanwhile, Nationals HQ has been scrambling to contact Joyce.
“No word from him yet,” said a staffer.
More to come.
