Deposed Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has revealed the full cost of getting his party to back the former Coalition government's net zero policy.
The now former deputy prime minister insists he "screwed a pretty good deal" for regional Australia by getting $30 billion in funding commitments out of former prime minister Scott Morrison.
Mr Joyce was toppled by his former deputy David Littleproud in a post-election leadership ballot yesterday.
Despite running in that ballot, Mr Joyce said if he had won he intended to stand down from the leadership in the next term.
"It's kind of a weight off my shoulders, to be honest," Mr Joyce said on Tuesday.
"I always said, and I'm surprised it never leaked, I always said I was transitioning out of the leadership.
"I probably didn't want to do it yesterday, but that's life, that's politics."
Mr Joyce said he told the Nationals party room of his plans as early as last June, but speaking to the media in Canberra, he did not name his preferred successor.
"I said it actually when I stood for the leadership when there was a change between Michael [McCormack] and myself," he said.
"I said, 'This is a transitioning to a new leadership team,' and I have said that all the way through."
Mr Joyce said he wanted to secure a good deal for the Nationals in a secret Coalition agreement with the Liberals before he stepped down as leader and that he did not think it would be "fair" to not contest yesterday's leadership ballot.
"I had to stand because I had a contract with the Australian people," he said.
"I think they'd be pretty disappointed if they said, you know, 'We presumed you're going to be there afterwards.'
"It's incumbent upon me to stand. And I stood, and I didn't win."
True cost of net zero target closer to $30b
Following this year's federal budget, it appeared Mr Joyce had secured $21 billion of measures for regional Australia, including new roads, dams and railways, which was seen as payment for his party backing a net zero carbon emissions by 2050 commitment.
But Mr Joyce said the true figure was "north of $21 billion" and closer to $30 billion.
"I'm a little old bush accountant. I know how to do a deal," Mr Joyce said.
"I really screwed a good deal out of that."
Mr Joyce also hinted that the Nationals withheld support for a 2030 climate target.
"In our agreement that we came to — that myself and Mr Morrison came to — we did not support a 2030 target. We did support a 2050 target, not a 2030 target," he said.
Mr Joyce has been criticised by Coalition colleagues for contributing to the demise of inner-city Liberal candidates who lost to teal independents campaigning for stronger climate commitments.
Mr Joyce said he was "absolutely committed to serving the people of New England" and he expected to see out the full term of the parliament.
