The Rant: Barnaby Joyce called the government's potential extension of $150 power bill rebates a "total swindle" and "Band-Aid on an amputated leg" during a heated Sunrise panel with Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek on Monday morning.

The Biblical Quote: Joyce compared renewable energy policy to "a dog returning to his vomit, as the Bible tells you. If you're making a stuff-up, you stop it. You don't continue on."

The Exchange: When Plibersek tried to interrupt, Joyce snapped: "You just spoke for about five minutes before. So if you don't like me interrupting, you don't interrupt me. How's that for a deal?"

The Context: Anthony Albanese hasn't ruled out extending the $150 quarterly rebate beyond December 31, 2025, if power prices keep rising. Current rebate: $300 in FY24-25 (four $75 instalments), extended to $150 more for July-December 2025 (two $75 instalments). Total: $450 per household over 18 months.

The Split: Joyce recently distanced himself from the Nationals over energy policy, indicating his increasingly extreme rhetoric on renewables is putting him at odds with his own party. He claims "intermittent power" is destroying Australia's power grid and de-industrializing the nation.

Barnaby Joyce doesn't do subtle.

Appearing on Seven's Sunrise Monday morning, the New England MP was asked about reports that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese might extend the $150 power bill subsidy if electricity prices continue rising.

His response was immediate and theatrical.

"It's a Band-Aid on an amputated leg that's happened out in the paddock," Joyce declared.

For those not fluent in Barnaby-speak, translation: The energy rebate is a completely inadequate response to a catastrophic problem.

"What we see is all the things that 10 years has brought up, where the taxpayers' money is given back to the taxpayers or to non-taxpayers. It's not about fundamental change, and the intermediate power swindle has brought a structural decline, a structural basically destruction, of our power grid."

Host Nat Barr tried to get a straight answer: Did he support the rebates or not?

Joyce's response was classic Joyce—avoiding the yes-or-no question while launching into another attack.

The segment got uncomfortable when Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek, appearing on the same panel, challenged Joyce's position.

Joyce had been speaking at length—criticizing the government's new Solar Saver scheme and broader energy policy—when Plibersek tried to interject.

That's when Joyce lost it.

"You just spoke for about five minutes before," Joyce told Plibersek. "So if you don't like me interrupting, you don't interrupt me. How's that for a deal?"

The exchange highlighted the hostile relationship........

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