Barnaby Joyce says the PM and Deputy PM made a “slip up” in not telling him he’d been dumped from a senior role in government.

Scott Morrison announced his new ministry on Sunday with Joyce’s role as Special Envoy for drought scrapped altogether.

But, the former Nationals leader only found out via social media, responding to a Tweet from Sky News.

Just found out from you guys then

— Barnaby Joyce (@Barnaby_Joyce) May 26, 2019

The former Deputy PM tells Ray Hadley Scott Morrison and Deputy PM Michael McCormack should have handled the situation better.

“Look I think it’s proper that people do because you’ve got staff and you’ve got to let your staff know that they don’t have a job.

“I think that was maybe a slip up on their part. I don’t know.

“The hardest calls you make… are the ones where people are losing their jobs, not getting their jobs, and you make those calls first.”

The Member for New England says the decision to scrap the position shouldn’t be taken as a sign that the drought is easing.

“The drought’s still going on and that’s the important thing. The important thing is other people.”

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