KNOCK, knock, who’s there?
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That’s the question Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon is asking about Member for New England Barnaby Joyce’s Armidale office.
Mr Fitzgibbon lashed out at Mr Joyce on Thursday, accusing him of “pork barrelling” an unused office to Armidale.
A spokesman for Mr Joyce said the claims were false.
“The Armidale ministerial office is open all week and attended regularly by the minister,” he said.
“He most recently met with stakeholders at the Armidale office just two weeks ago prior to the current fortnight of parliamentary sittings.”
There are three ministerial staff members based in Armidale, an office fit out that cost $365,748 to relocate.
The spokesman said that instead of occupying an office in Sydney, Mr Joyce chose to locate his in an agricultural centre for convenience.
“Armidale is an ideal location given the vast number of agricultural enterprises and representative bodies that call the city home,” he said.