Summary: <br> Approaching the one-year anniversary of becoming National Party leader, Barnaby Joyce is well aware of the challenge posed by One Nation.<br> Joyce tells Michelle Grattan he knows “there’s a battle on”, as the Queensland election looms. He agrees regional seats in that state are particularly vulnerable to falling to Pauline Hanson’s party.<br> “I take every political vote seriously because every person has a right to reflect their wishes in their vote and therefore I’ll be in Queensland this weekend. I was there last week or the week before last - but Australia is a big place. I try to get around as much of it as I possibly can.”<br> In his first year as leader, Joyce has had to manage his volatile backbencher - and party whip - George Christensen, a delicate task when the Coalition has a majority of just one seat. He remains confident Christensen will remain in the tent. “"I talk to George all the time,” he says.<br> He holds back from criticising Christensen for <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/cory-bernardi-and-george-christensens-q-society-event-stirs-anger-at-victoria-university-20170213-gubiyz.html">attending a fundraiser</a> of the far-right “Q Society” in Melbourne last week.<br> “Because you attend a forum, does not mean you agree with all their views. It’s a question for George.<br> "The National Party, more than any other party in this building, believes in the liberty of the individual. All the others might talk about it but we actually believe it.”<br> <br> Music credit: “Opaque”, by Tab & Anitek on the Free Music Archive<br>
