Joyce announced his resignation on Thursday, the last day before parliament’s break, and will now serve as an independent for New England before retiring at the next election.
He criticised his House seat as an ejection seat and expressed a desire for more influence in the Senate to better scrutinise bills.
Tensions over issues like net zero targets contributed to the move, and he’s strongly considering a Senate run with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.
The departure trims Coalition numbers in the House and stirs rural conservative circles.
