One of Australia’s best-known and most colourful politicians, Barnaby Joyce, is quitting the National Party to sit as an independent—and he hasn't ruled out joining Pauline Hanson’s One Nation in the future. Sarah Ison joins Claire Harvey to unpack the shock defection, what Pauline Hanson sees in the firebrand former leader, and why Joyce isn't resigning his New England seat to trigger a by-election.

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This episode of The Front is presented and produced by Claire Harvey and edited by Tiffany Dimmack. Our team includes Kristen Amiet, Lia Tsamoglou, Tiffany Dimmack, Joshua Burton, Stephanie Coombes and Jasper Leak, who also composed our music.