Australia news live: Nationals want Joyce to stay in the party, Littleproud says; counter-protests expected at anti-immigration rallies

Unite Against Racism: Migrants and Refugees Are Welcome events taking place in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Follow the latest updates live.Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has called for Barnaby Joyce to remain with the party after the maverick MP announced his intention to quit, AAP reports.Littleproud said Joyce still had a critical role to play within the party and urged him to stay inside the coalition.So obviously we all will be talking to Barnaby. We want to make sure that his contribution is a valued one within our party room, as everybody is.I’ll be reaching out and having a conversation and making sure he understands that he, along with the rest of us, will play a very important role in shaping the Coalition and helping the Coalition rebuild.We’ve got to make sure that we’re not just a party of protest, we’re a party that can govern and say to the Australian people, there’s an alternative way to address climate change.I’m a good mate of Barnaby’s but I’ll wait and see what’s real and what’s just another attempt to … keep this chatter and division going on with regard to the Coalition. Continue reading...