Scott Morrison’s government has been likened to a “bad cage fight” as he gears up for a gruelling week in parliament.
Facing fights over religious discrimination, the Prime Minister also has to dispel questions about his integrity following the leak of damaging texts.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has been forced to apologise after describing Mr Morrison as a “hypocrite and a liar”.
It came just days after leaked messages from an unnamed cabinet minister described him as a “complete psycho”.
Speaking with Sky News, Labor’s Andrew Leigh said it was just the latest in a long line of scathing character assessments from people who have worked closely with the Prime Minister.
“It’s a bad cage fight. You’ve got Emmanuel Macron, Malcolm Turnbull, Gladys Berejiklian and now Barnaby Joyce questioning the honesty and integrity of the prime minister,” Dr Leigh said.
“And it's very clear now that those who are closest to Scott Morrison don’t trust him.
“And when you've lost the trust of Australians, I think you’ve lost the ability to govern effectively.”
Mr Joyce has since apologised for the texts, which Mr Morrison accepted in “good faith”.
“I know he genuinely no longer feels this way,” the Prime Minister said on Sunday.
But amid reports of frosty relations between the pair, one Nationals MP says the two are considered in some circles to be “too close”.
“I can honestly say that the relationship between Barnaby and Scott Morrison is close and in fact some Nats say it is too close,” Deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud told the ABC.
“Because the Nats like to remain separate and have a transactional relationship with the Libs, so I can only make my observations of what I see.”
Regardless, Mr Joyce will be asked for a “please explain” when he faces a Nationals partyroom meeting on Monday.
