Senator Joyce is today on his way to Cairns to campaign with Ian Crossland, National Party candidate for the seat of Leichhardt.

Senator Joyce said "If this campaign devolves into a 'Who has the nicest tie today campaign?' then this could be a great struggle for us.

"Not one person in the coming election actually gets to vote for the Prime Minister. Not one ballot paper to be issued at the federal election will have the question on it 'Who do you want as Prime Minister?' It will ask you to vote for a party; the members of that party will appoint their leader and, if that party so chooses, they can change their leader once a week.

"The crucial issue is: who do they have to pick from in picking the key members of the management team which runs the nation? Do they have proven experience in running the nation or at least in running a business? If they don't have experience in these fields, where do their key experiences lay?"

Senator Joyce said "Why has Australia drifted towards a US style presidential campaign when we are neither the United States, nor do we have a president and the reality of leadership in Australia has little to do with the aspirations of the Australian people and a lot to do with the aspirations of the party who, though they may reflect on what the Australian people wish, are in no way bound to it?

"The Coalition team has, amongst others, John Howard, Mark Vaile, Peter Costello, Alexander Downer, Warren Truss, Tony Abbott, Julie Bishop, Malcolm Turnbull and Peter McGauran. Against this group of people are Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Wayne Swan, Anthony Albanese, Peter Garrett, Robert McClelland and Nicola Roxon. These, amongst others, are the potential key office holders in the next parliamentary term.

"All of these office holders will decisively affect the way the nation goes. They all have the power to change their leader. This is the reality of a Westminster parliamentary system and an honest examination of the two potential directions offered at the election has to take in this entire picture.

"The Senate's job is to keep either side in check. For my own part, I'm off to help Ian Crossland win Leichhardt. Crosso is definitely a North Queensland candidate and campaigning with him can be a very entertaining experience. He's certainly not scared to speak his mind." Senator Joyce said.