Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National
Susan Oong and photographer Matt Roberts

A leadership spill, political overthrow and a Coalition rift: The political week that was, in pictures

Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce with Governor-General David Hurley at his swearing in ceremony on Tuesday. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

It's been a tumultuous week in national politics.

It began with a new Deputy PM 

leadership spill within the Nationals resulted in the second coming of controversial leader Barnaby Joyce.

National Party whip Damian Drum announced the result of the leadership spill on Monday. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

Yes, the same man who wants to build a coal-fired power station in Central Queensland despite the Coalition's aim for a net-zero emissions target by 2050.

The newly minted leader of the Nationals takes the Chair. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

Dumped Nationals leader Michael McCormack, who remained the nation's deputy prime minister until Joyce was sworn in on Tuesday, had the unenviable task of having to sit in the Prime Minister's chair come Question Time despite having been sacked by his own party.

Michael McCormack shakes hands with Anthony Albanese after losing the National Party leadership. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

Not everyone was happy with the move

Victorian Nationals MP Anne Webster issued a warning before the spill, saying many in the party would be wary of Joyce's return to the nation's second-highest political office.

Anne Webster warned of Mr Joyce's return before the spill. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

As the news broke, regional women spoke out, dubbing the new leadership "a backwards" step by the National Party.

All overseen by a PM stuck in quarantine 

PM stuck at home 2 km down the road. (ABC  News: Matt Roberts)

After visiting the UK for the G7 summit, with a bit of a "personal" trip on the side.

Tuesday was an early start

Not now, mate. Dad's busy. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

Cue song: Pompeii ("But if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like you've been here before?") by Bastille.

Joyce was sworn in by the Governor-General, for the second time in his parliamentary career.

Then UNESCO threw a curve ball on its Great Barrier Reef listing

Environment Minister Sussan Ley and Warren Entsch had plenty to say on UNESCO's proposal to list Australia's Great Barrier Reef as "in danger".  (ABC News: Matt Roberts )

And the government got its hackles up.

Wednesday, the Nats made a play on water

The Nationals made a policy split from its Coalition partner to try to rewrite the Murray Darling Basin plan, which was later defeated in the Senate. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

A bold move by the National Party to split from its Coalition partner and try to rewrite the Murray-Darling Basin Plan was ultimately defeated in the Senate and later the House.

Bridget McKenzie led the charge in the Senate. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

Then hit the mid-week hump

Joyce's return to power has thrown the government into chaos. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

When the week's feather-ruffling became evident.

Chaos aside, for some it was play on

Matt Canavan will keep flexing his muscles as Deputy Leader of the Nationals in the Senate. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

Just another week on the Hill for the Nationals.

And it's happy families once again

Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce with partner Vikki Campion and their sons Sebastian and Thomas. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.