FALL AND RISE OF BARNABY JOYCE
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2016
February - Barnaby Joyce elected unopposed to replace the retiring Warren Truss as Nationals leader, and becomes deputy prime minister in the process.
2017
December - Having been caught up in the citizenship crisis, Joyce retains his seat of New England in a by-election. He later announces his separation from his wife.
2018
February - It is revealed he is expecting a child with his former media adviser Vikki Campion. Joyce resigns the Nationals leadership to "clear the air" over sexual harassment allegations, which he denies, and the scandal over his affair with Campion. He is replaced by Michael McCormack.
September - An investigation by the Nationals is indeterminate on the sexual harassment allegations.
October - McCormack insists he has the support of the Nationals party room amid rumblings Joyce is gunning for a return to the leadership.
2019
May - Coalition retains office at the federal election.
August - Joyce is appointed drought envoy by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, but is criticised for sending text messages instead of a formal report on his work.
2020
February - McCormack survives leadership spill, with David Littleproud replacing Bridget McKenzie after she quit over the sports rorts scandal. Joyce insists there will be a Morrison-McCormack government going to the next election. Backbencher Llew O'Brien quits the partyroom, but remains a member of the LNP. Joyce warns more MPs could follow O'Brien.
April - An entire chapter of Malcolm Turnbull's book is devoted to Joyce and the 'bonk ban' episode.
December - O'Brien returns to the Nationals party room, saying he will push for coal-fired power and an exit from the Paris climate agreement. Campion takes aim at Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester over not doing enough to defend veterans caught up in the Afghan war crimes investigation.
2021
January - Joyce says the coalition is a "marriage of convenience" that diminishes both parties' electoral prospects. McCormack says it is a "marriage of strength".
February - Joyce hijacks his own government's bill by seeking to allow the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to invest in coal-fired power. The bill disappears from the parliament program. His Nationals colleague Matt Canavan says net zero by 2050 is a "mythical target".
June - Joyce challenges McCormack and wins back his old job.
Australian Associated Press
