Barnaby Joyce passes the pub test

How much money should the government make off your beer down the pub?

I arrived at Mr Joyce’s office just as the bells were ringing for a division. I was happy about this because I was running a minute late. Gunner time remains an important value. If you get it wrong, well. They don’t call we gunners ‘dropshorts’ for nothing.

Mr Joyce arrived and I backgrounded him on how I’d heard his speech from the gallery. I wanted to hear his views on the alcohol excise and the role he’d played in bringing about the freeze on the excise for the next two years.

‘Were you instrumental?’ I asked.

‘No, I played my part’, he replied.

Mr Joyce explained that One Nation has a policy to abolish the excise on alcohol served at venues. This would not be extended to bottleshops. The idea is about keeping pubs at the centre of community. Mr Joyce reinforced that this is particularly important in one-pub towns in regional and rural Australia.

My latest in The Spectator Australia, Barnaby Joyce passes the pub test.

Barnaby Joyce, on behalf of One Nation, has put forward their plan to save the local pub - and your cultural Friday drinks.

The aim is to restore quality of life and curb government greed.

It is being presented as another policy that understands ordinary people - whether they… pic.twitter.com/QTtRk9QiSf

— The Spectator Australia (@SpectatorOz) February 11, 2026