Anthony Albanese demands Barnaby Joyce ‘should go’ over bullets comment

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for Barnaby Joyce to be dumped from shadow cabinet, after the Coalition frontbencher was forced to apologise for likening ballot papers to “bullets” during a protest against wind turbines.

Mr Albanese said at a time when social cohesion was low, and the risk of political violence was increasing in the wake of the recent assassination attempt of US presidential nominee Donald Trump, that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton should take strong action against his colleague.

“It’s time this bloke had a good look at himself, but it’s also time that Peter Dutton showed a bit of leadership,” Mr Albanese demanded.

The New England MP, also the shadow veterans affairs minister, was at an anti-renewables rally south of Sydney on Sunday, when he lamented how “catastrophic” it would have been if Mr Trump had not survived this month’s assassination.

He went on to urge the crowd to “load that magazine” at the next Federal election against Mr Albanese, local Labor MP Stephen Jones, and Energy Minister Chris Bowen.

“And the bullet you have is that little piece of paper, and it goes in their magazine called the voting box and it’s coming up,” he said in a speech livestreamed on his social media profile.

“Get ready to load that magazine. Go goodbye, Chris. Goodbye Stephen. Goodbye, Albo.”

Appearing on Seven’s Sunrise on Monday morning, Mr Joyce initially defended his use of the metaphor, saying: “The ballot paper is the weapon you have — it shouldn’t be a bullet, it should be a ballot paper and the ballot box”.

“I said ballot paper and ballot box. That’s what people should be using … People don’t like these wind turds out in the ocean or all over the environment,” he added.

Only after his morning show debate opponent, Labor Minister Bill Shorten, called on him to apologise for the metaphor, did he do so.

“Here we go. I apologise for using that metaphor,” he said.

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley rebuked her colleague, but didn’t go as far as condemning his comments, saying: “It’s not language I would have used”.

Mr Albanese said the comments incite violent behaviour, and that Mr Dutton faced a “test”.

He called on him to condemn the comments and punish Mr Joyce for them.

“This is completely unacceptable. It is a test for Peter Dutton. Peter Dutton has had four reshuffles, he should have a fifth, and Barnaby Joyce should go,” Mr Albanese told Sky News.

“This is the sort of language which has no place in any part of Australian society, let alone in public life.

“Here you have a guy going to a rally, calling for action, using analogies of guns, bullets, magazines and ‘goodbye’ to three members of the government. What does this bloke have to do to lose his job?”