"I look forward to having a very, very good discussion with the Prime Minister in the next few moments.  He has been an outstanding Prime Minister for Australia".

That's new Deputy PM Michael McCormack a few moments ago after winning Barnaby Joyce's job, a job that only became available courtesy of Turnbull making Barnaby's position untenable.

McCormack is an uninspired choice for the Deputy Prime Ministership of Australia.  There's not a lot to be excited about.

Here's a reminder of the style of bloke he'll be working with - Turnbull.

This is Turnbull with Barnaby Joyce "putting the band back together" on the night of Barnaby's by-election win.

Turnbull knew all about Barnaby's personal circumstances on that night.

He didn't seem terribly concerned about Nat and the girls.

He had nothing but praise for Barnaby.

It's amazing what a few days bad press can do.

This press conference was the death knell for Barnaby.

https://www.pm.gov.au/media/press-conference-parliament-house-canberra

PRIME MINISTER:

Good afternoon.

This week, most attention has been focused on Barnaby Joyce and his conduct. There has been a lot of discussion about whether he complied with ministerial standards. Whether he complied with the requirements for disclosing use of government entitlements. Barnaby has given me - as I said in the House - an unequivocal assurance that he has complied with the ministerial standards and with both the use and reporting of ministerial and other entitlements.

But I think we know that the real issue is the terrible hurt and humiliation that Barnaby by his conduct, has visited on his wife, Natalie and their daughters and indeed, his new partner.

That's the real issue for the government of Australia is it Mal?

Turnbull is in power only because Barnaby Joyce and his Nationals not only retained all their seats at the last election, they gained one seat.   Turnbull reduced Tony Abbott's 30+ seat margin in the House of Representatives to a one seat buffer retaining government courtesy of that National seat won by Barnaby et al.

Barnaby's reward from Turnbull?