Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has used part of his pre-election National Press Club address to warn against voting for independents, Greens and minor parties and returning Australia to another hung parliament.
Speaking to the Canberra press pack on Wednesday, Mr Joyce said voter embrace of smaller political players would spell political disaster because they "stand outside the order of the nation" and "play from the edges."
Independent MPs "claim credit for virtually everything but not are responsible for anything," Mr Joyce told reporters.
Major polls have the Government and Opposition in a dead heat, which could see see the Greens and independents in the Lower House again hold the balance of power following the July 2 election.
In Mr Joyce's electorate of New England, the incumbent Nationals MP is neck-and-neck with independent candidate Tony Windsor, who announced he would have another tilt at the seat in March.
Also attempting to rejoin federal politics is Rob Oakeshott, who is campaigning in the neighbouring electorate of Cowper. The pair backed the minority Labor government led by Julia Gillard in 2010, along with independent MP Andrew Wilkie and Greens MP Adam Bandt.
Mr Joyce labelled them "the front page of the Glee Club".
Independent MP's Rob Oakeshott (left) Bob Katter (centre) and Tony Windsor take a break for lunch at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, Sept. 6, 2010. Source: AAP
"The band is back together, offering us the same chaos that was brought to us at the last concert," he said, citing the mining tax and carbon pricing scheme.
"It is not courageous to scream from the coffee shop," Mr Joyce said.
"It's courageous to get as close to the centre of the table as possible, and to the heat and fury of discussion that goes on within any political party, to negotiate what is better for your people, knowing full well that the outcome of your discussions is delivery."
"I don't think there's anything courageous about being the biggest hit in Aussies," he added, alluding to the popular parliament cafe frequented by politicians and journalists.
"It's better to be the biggest hit in cabinet."
The Deputy Prime Minister also announced a raft of policies for regional Australia, including a single administrator for agriculture and water financing, new eligibility requirements for remote students claiming Youth Allowance, and $100 million to seal The Outback Way.
The latest Newspoll puts Mr Joyce narrowly in the lead with 51 per cent to Mr Windsor's 49 per cent, a result that represents a strong swing of 13.5 per cent away from Mr Joyce in the rural electorate.
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