CRITICS have launched stinging attacks on Nationals leaders for criticising rural independents on Saturday.
Monash University politics lecturer Nick Economou labelled Senate leader Barnaby Joyce "a fool" whom the Coalition likely tolerated because "they're better to have an idiot on the inside pissing out than the other way around".
Queensland Independent Bob Katter said Senator Joyce had taken a cheap shot at fellow Independent Tony Windsor as the election results came in and said Nationals leader Warren Truss had "carried (out) a personal attack on me".
"Tony Abbott must have been grinding his teeth. It was quite extraordinary," Mr Katter said.
Mr Economou said the pre-existing animosity Mr Windsor and Mr Katter felt for Senator Joyce could see a deal struck with the Coalition to lock Senator Joyce out of a ministry.
Swinburne political scientist Brian Costar said Mr Truss' criticism of Mr Katter's parliamentary attendance rate was "not clever".
"These pre-emptive cracks at independents ... you don't do this," Mr Costar said.
Mr Windsor labelled Senator Joyce "a fool and an embarrassment to country Australia".
Mr Katter's website said the Nationals had rolled over on important rural issues.
Senator Joyce would not discuss the independents' digs at him or why they left the party.
A spokesman for Mr Truss said the Nationals leader had never made a personal attack on Mr Katter.
