Albanese calls on Coalition to explain Barnaby Joyce footpath incident

The prime minister has called for the Coalition leadership to explain the actions of former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, who was last week filmed lying on a Canberra footpath having a phone conversation.

Guardian Australia understands Joyce won’t attend the Nationals party room meeting scheduled for Monday.

On Friday, Daily Mail Australia published night-time footage of Joyce lying face up on the pavement with his feet on a planter box having a phone conversation and uttering profanities.

Questioned about Joyce’s behaviour at a press conference, Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that people deserved an explanation for what had occurred.

“Well, I think people will certainly make their own judgments on that. People will see that footage, they will look for an explanation that … has some credibility, and they’ll look for leadership from the leader of the Liberal party and the leader of the National party about this,” Albanese said.

“I think people will also think to themselves, what would the response be if that was a minister in my government being seen to be behaving in that way?

“I think that there just needs to be an explanation of what occurred.”

On Friday Joyce told Guardian Australia he was walking from parliament to his accommodation late on Wednesday, when he fell over next to a planter box on Lonsdale Street in Braddon.

He said he was on the phone with his partner, Vikki Campion.

“If I knew someone was filming me I probably would have got up quicker before I walked home. I was swearing at myself,” Joyce said.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton told Sky News on Sunday he would talk with Joyce later in the week, as would Nationals leader David Littleproud.

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“It’s pretty rough when people are walking past somebody who might need support,” Dutton said.

“I understand a chalk mark has been drawn on the footpath. It could only happen in Canberra where all those Greens and Labor staffers are.

“I will have a chat with Barnaby later this week and as you said David Littleproud spoke with Barnaby and is going to speak to him again this week and that is where the situation is at the moment.”

The Barnaby Joyce chalk outline in Lonsdale Street, Braddon, Canberra. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

The shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, warned against “jumping to conclusions” when he was questioned about the incident while appearing on ABC Insiders.

“Look, people love to jump to conclusions on these things. And I’m certainly not doing that. And I don’t think anyone should. I think the primary issue for us is Barnaby’s welfare. And we will remain focused on that. I certainly will remain focused on that,” Taylor said.