Biography
Barnaby is one of a family of eight from a cattle and sheep business in southern New England. After graduating with a degree in accountancy, Barnaby spent three years with a chartered accountancy firm then a short period with an American multinational in cost accounting before completing five years with a major regional bank.
With a choice between a senior role in banking or starting his own business Barnaby chose the latter and owned and operated Barnaby Joyce and Co for ten years. His role in the National Party had concurrently taken him to Acting Treasurer of the Queensland Nationals. In 2004 he was elected to head of the National Senate team and won back the previously lost Senate seat.
Barnaby believed in a more classic role of the Senate as an independent house of review than the executive. His so-called “crossing the floor’ made him both hero and villain, but overwhelmingly respected by his constituency as a conviction politician.
In the Senate he was a voting member of the Senate Economics Committee and was author of “The Birdsville Amendment” to protect small business. Barnaby is unashamedly pro small business and is derided by many because of his pro small business views.
Barnaby was elected to the role of Nationals Leader in the Senate in September, 2008. In 2009 he was appointed Shadow Finance Minster and was more in the spotlight with his attack on Labor’s debt. The coalition polling on economic management rose well above Labor in conjunction with his appointment.
Barnaby is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary, former serving member of the Australian Defense Force Reserves, long term member of St Vincent De Paul, represented central North NSW in Rugby, has been painted twice for the Archibald Prize and most importantly is married to Natalie with four daughters, no son and is a great shot.