CANBERRA: Barnaby Joyce says he is yet to make up his mind whether or not to announce his plans to join Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

Speaking at his 15th news conference since announcing in parliament yesterday his decision to leave the National Party (main picture) Mr Joyce was quizzed by reporters about the wording he has been using to divulge details of his future.

“I don’t know why you have a problem with the phrasing I have been using,” he told reporters livestreaming and uploading to their social media accounts his every word.

“Up until yesterday I was clearly saying that I was yet to announce my decision to leave the National Party. Then I made my announcement.

“Similarly, I am saying now that I am yet to announce my decision to join One Nation.

“You all seem to suggest that I’m not being frank, that I’m being deceptive just to string you along, and through you string all Australians along, by pretending I haven’t already made up my mind on these matters.

“I can say here and now without a doubt that when I say I haven’t made up my mind I am 100% genuine. It is 100% me that is saying I haven’t made up my mind.

“I can also say – and anyone who is not here from the gallery can catch this comment at my 16th news conference in a few hours – that I don’t want my decisions on my future to turn into a circus,” he said through a megaphone despite the presence in front of him of an array of microphones belonging to dozens of media outlets.

In an unusual move at the end of Mr Joyce’s news conference, a representative of the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery released a statement signed by all of its member journalists.

“We the undersigned as paid up members of the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery and on behalf of previous members wish to apologise to all Australians for our previous egregious behaviour in ever entertaining let alone ever repeatedly declaring that Barnaby Joyce was – and I quote – ‘Australia’s greatest retail politician’,” the statement said.

“For this we are truly sorry and from this day forward we commit to never again being so willingly misled by a shallow, blustering, self-promoting, far-right-wing stunt-driven wind bag.”

The gallery statement also contained details of the time later this afternoon for Mr Joyce’s next news conference beside a planter box on a Tamworth footpath, as well as details for news conferences by Pauline Hanson and Bob Katter Junior.

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