‘Come on’: Pauline Hanson, Nationals leader Matt Canavan clash over Barnaby Joyce

Pauline Hanson has clashed with Nationals leader Matt Canavan over ex-MP Barnaby Joyce’s defection to One Nation and net zero, stating she is annoyed when she is called “irrelevant” and someone who has nothing “to offer politics”.

Senator Hanson took the stage at the annual Bush Summit in Dubbo in the NSW Central West for the first time on Thursday, seated next to Senator Canavan for a panel event.

Senator Canavan took the reins of The Nationals earlier this year from former leader David Littleproud, who oversaw the party’s messy split with Mr Joyce, a long-time MP and former deputy prime minister.

Asked about the threat from One Nation in Nationals seats and Mr Joyce’s defection, Senator Canavan said he still counted the New England MP “as a mate”.

“He openly said he left because he didn’t like David Littleproud,” he said.

“He’s made a decision. I’m a little disappointed by it, but I didn’t get involved in politics because I want to have friends.

“I’m in politics to make a difference. That’s why I spend so much time away from five kids and a beautiful wife. I do it for that.

“So, I was pretty disappointed by his decision because I don’t think that’s a reasonable basis to leave a political party who put you there … the hundreds of thousands of volunteers that stayed out in the winds, out in the cold to get you elected.”

“He didn’t leave The Nationals party just because of David Littleproud.”

“The other reason, he says, was because we adopted net zero. But, by the time he left, we’d scrapped that.”

Senator Canavan said he was he was “not worried” about One Nation but continued to clash with Senator Hanson over net zero.

“It just annoys me, you know, to make me as if I’m irrelevant in this, as if I’ve got nothing to offer politics,” Senator Hanson said.

The clash did not stop, though, with Senator Hanson stating renewable targets began under former prime minister John Howard and net zero – but not the Paris climate agreement, as Senator Canavan cut in – under Scott Morrison.

“That’s all Liberals. The Labor Party have … just followed on,” she said.