<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nationals leader David Littleproud has vowed to try and change Barnaby Joyce's mind </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/barnaby-joyce-to-leave-the-nationals-amid-speculation-of-defection-to-one-nation/cef8e827-1f60-4024-8335-3326e0a0aa8b" rel="" target="" title="after the long-time MP announced plans to quit the party yesterday."><span>after the long-time MP announced plans to quit the party yesterday.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Joyce confirmed he will not contest his seat of New England at another election and will leave the Nationals after what he said was an "irreparable breakdown" in the relationship.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Following reports One Nation leader Pauline Hanson was already courting Joyce to join her ranks, Littleproud has watered down talk that Joyce's departure is written in stone.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-outage-millions-of-customers-say-they-would-consider-leaving-telco-after-deadly-outage/08dce10c-a70e-4416-9974-5c51edbef58a" rel="" target="_blank" title="Major blow for Optus as millions consider leaving the network"><strong><span>Major blow for Optus as millions consider leaving the network</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We'll be talking to Barnaby. We want to make sure that his contribution is a valued one within our party room, as everybody is," Littleproud told </span><em><span>Today</span></em><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We want him to stay in The National Party.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think he has a contribution to make between now and when he retires."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/nationals-leader-david-littleproud-to-talk-to-barnaby-joyce-mind-after-decision-to-step-back/a717ace1-feb1-43c0-b609-722e8cc172be" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When asked if he might try and persuade Joyce to change his mind, the party leader said he would give it a crack.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But he emphasised Joyce is still a member of the Nationals.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Well, of course, he was elected a National Party member," he added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He, like the other 18 members of the party room, including me, all have a voice. And that voice is important to be in the collective."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Joyce put out a statement yesterday after rumours circulated he was switching parties to join One Nation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My relationship with the leadership of the Nationals in Canberra has unfortunately, like a sadness in some marriages, irreparably broken down," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/anthony-albanese-donald-trump-meeting-preview/da4559f7-d7f1-47ff-9a32-3d2ac52924f0" target="_blank" title="The wretched fate Anthony Albanese is hoping to dodge in two days"><strong><span>The wretched fate Anthony Albanese is hoping to dodge in two days</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-south-east-logan-fears-multiple-takeaway-orders-contaminated-after-cluster-of-people-sick-with-rat-poisoning/6e97b752-a4a8-4bb9-8839-208956841063" target="_blank" title="Fears multiple takeaway orders contaminated with rat poison"><strong><span>Fears multiple takeaway orders contaminated with rat poison</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The instructions that during the federal election I was not to campaign outside New England as that did not represent the views of the Nationals, then after the election being moved on for 'generational change' and just the atmospherics in the party room, where I am seated in the far corner of the Coalition in the chamber, means I am seen and now turning into a discordant note.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That is not who I want to be."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The New England MP said his policy rift with the Nationals is largely around net zero.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Joyce has stopped short of saying whether he would defect to Hanson's conservative party.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hanson, speaking from Joyce's hometown of Tamworth today, tried to encourage him to make the move to her party.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Barnaby, I'll open the doors for you. Come across to One Nation," she told 9News.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Barnaby is more aligned with One Nation than what he is with the Nationals Party."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><strong><span>Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>