Barnaby Joyce's exit from the Nationals 'almost a Greek tragedy', Michael McCormack says – as it happened

Barnaby Joyce's Exit from Nationals 'Almost a Greek Tragedy', Michael McCormack Says – as it Happened

A saga of drama and controversy has unfolded for the Australian Nationals party, with the latest casualty being Deputy Leader Barnaby Joyce. His departure has been likened to an "almost Greek tragedy" by Michael McCormack, who spoke to The ABC in a candid interview.

According to McCormack, Joyce's exit was not unexpected, but it still came as a shock. He described it as a " saga that goes on and on", with the media attention focused on Joyce rather than more pressing issues affecting Australians.

McCormack emphasized that the real tragedy lies elsewhere. "That is the soaring power prices," he said. "That is the cost of living crisis. That is the fact that many Australians won't be able to put food on the table or presents under the tree this Christmas. That is a tragedy. It truly is."

The Nationals MP also highlighted the ongoing struggles faced by regional workers, who are facing job losses and financial hardship due to base closures. McCormack acknowledged the difficulties faced by these workers, saying that they would be "stripped of skilled jobs" and forced to make an impossible choice between their livelihoods and family obligations.

While Joyce's departure has sent shockwaves through the party, it is clear that McCormack sees it as a smaller issue compared to the bigger picture. As he put it, "it's never been about me".

lol what a saga the guy was already dodging scandals left and right and now mccormack's all like 'it's not about us' anyway, power prices are still out of control rn ️ and regional workers deserve better

OMG u guys Barnaby Joyce leaving the Nationals party was like a train wreck i cant look away from and Michael McCormacks comments about it being like a Greek tragedy are SO on point but for real though McCormack is trying to shift the focus to more serious issues like soaring power prices and cost of living crisis those are literally affecting ppl lives rn idk why ppl are still making such a big deal out of Joyce's drama i mean whats gonna change now? anyway, McCormack is trying to be all high & mighty about it but honestly he sounds pretty salty too

OMG u guys so like Barnaby Joyce just got kicked out of Nationals party and Michael McCormack is all like "oh woe is us" but I'm over here thinking its not that deep like seriously McCormack is trying to pivot away from the drama and onto more pressing issues like power prices and cost of living crisis which tbh are super relatable especially for ppl struggling financially

anywayz McCormacks got some tea about regional workers getting screwed job losses and financial struggles but he's also tryin to downplay it a bit like its not a big deal idk fam I'm still shook from the drama that went down

Ugh, can't believe this guy is trying to downplay Barnaby's drama like it's no big deal . Power prices and cost of living crisis? Yeah, that's a huge tragedy, but I'm not sure how much more drama we need in politics before someone actually tackles the real issues . McCormack's just trying to deflect attention from his own party's mess. And what about the Aussie workers who are literally struggling to make ends meet? You can't just compare their struggles to a soap opera like Barnaby's exit . I mean, come on, Michael, get your priorities straight

I'm kinda bummed out by this whole Barnaby Joyce thing . I mean, I get why people wanna scrutinize him and all, but can't we focus on something that actually affects Aussie lives? Like, have you seen the prices of groceries lately?! It's like, McCormack said it himself - soaring power prices are the real tragedy here.

And don't even get me started on regional workers . They're already struggling with base closures and whatnot. It's like, can't we give 'em a break for once? I feel bad for these guys who gotta choose between their jobs and family time. That's just harsh .

I guess it's good that McCormack's keeping it real and saying it's not about him . But, like, can't we do better than this? We're a country with so much potential, but sometimes I feel like we're stuck in the same old drama loop . Maybe we should focus on building up our communities instead of tearing each other down .

Barnaby's exit from Nationals is a mess, no doubt . But let's be real, it's just one of those things that happens in politics, right? The thing that really gets my goat is that the media is making such a big deal about it. I mean, I know Joyce was a divisive figure, but come on, can't we focus on something actually important for once? Like McCormack's point about soaring power prices and the cost of living crisis... that's the real tragedy . And what really gets me is how they're glossing over the struggles of regional workers. That's just not okay .

Omg, can't believe Barnaby Joyce is gone ! But I gotta agree with Michael McCormack, the real tragedy is the cost of living crisis and power prices Like, what's going on? It's so unfair to our Aussie workers who are already struggling in rural areas. They're not just losing jobs, but their livelihoods too It's like, McCormack said it best, we gotta put food on the table and presents under the tree this Christmas, fam! We need to focus on those real issues before we worry about party drama #AussieWorkersDeserveBetter

omg what a saga i'm so glad michael mccormack is focusing on the real issues tho like power prices and cost of living crisis... that's what matters most it's sad to see barnaby joyce go, but let's be real he was always a bit of a controversy magnet anyway, imo mccormack's message is much needed right now we should all be talking about how to make australia more affordable for everyone

omg barnaby joyce just got dethroned like a ancient greek king from his throne what's next? will he start wearing a laurel wreath? on a more serious note tho michael mccormack is right the real tragedy is the cost of living crisis and power prices we need leaders who care about the little guy not just themselves or their own party dramas

I feel bad for Barnaby Joyce but lets be real, he had it comin' after all those controversies . Anyway, I think Michael McCormack is right on point with his priorities - power prices and cost of living crisis are killing us! Have you noticed how hard it is to afford basic stuff lately? It's like the system just doesn't care about people struggling . Regional workers are also getting a raw deal, job losses and financial stress are no joke . McCormack's focus on the bigger picture is really refreshing - let's hope others follow his lead .

Ugh, can't believe they're so fixated on Barnaby's drama ... like, what's the real issue here? Power prices are through the roof and people are struggling to afford basic things . And don't even get me started on regional workers being left high and dry with base closures . It's not like Joyce's exit is going to make a difference in the grand scheme of things... McCormack needs to step up his game .

so michael mccormack is trying to shift the focus away from barnaby joyce's drama and onto the real issues affecting aussies... but isn't this just a classic case of passing the buck? like, instead of addressing the power prices or regional worker struggles head-on, he's diverting attention to barnaby's exit. seems kinda convenient, if you ask me...

I'm still trying to wrap my head around Barnaby's exit ... I mean, it was bound to happen eventually, right? But seriously, what really gets me is how Michael McCormack is pivoting the conversation back to more pressing issues like power prices and job losses. Like, yeah, Joyce might have been a drama magnet, but what about the people struggling to make ends meet? Those are the real tragedies here, imo. And McCormack's comment about being "stripped of skilled jobs" hit home for me... it's crazy to think about how many regional workers are facing financial hardship and uncertain futures

I'm still trying to wrap my head around Barnaby Joyce's exit from the Nationals... it feels like just yesterday we were talking about his leadership struggles . But seriously, I think McCormack is spot on - the real tragedy here is the state of the country's economy and cost of living crisis. It's not about one person or party, it's about the everyday Australians who are struggling to make ends meet .

I mean, don't get me wrong, Barnaby Joyce's antics have been pretty entertaining to watch from afar , but at the end of the day, it's just a distraction from the bigger issues. And I think McCormack is right that the party should be focusing on more pressing concerns like power prices and regional workers' struggles. It's time for them to put their money where their mouth is and start delivering real change .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this Barnaby Joyce saga ... I mean, I've seen some drama in my time, but this is on another level . But what really gets me is that Michael McCormack is trying to shift the focus away from the party infighting and onto real issues affecting Aussies like rising power prices and the cost of living crisis . It's not about Joyce or his personal dramas; it's about the everyday struggles people are facing right now. I feel for him, though - it's tough to be Deputy Leader with all that drama going on around you . But McCormack seems like a straight shooter who's trying to keep things in perspective. Fingers crossed he can steer the party back on track .

omg i'm so confused about what's going on with this Barnaby guy... like what did he even do wrong?? anyway back to something more interesting... have you guys tried that new avocado toast place downtown? i heard it's, like, super delish