Willow vanished from Wellsford nearly a year ago before resurfacing in Dargaville.

Pauline Hanson has invited Barnaby Joyce to join One Nation after he confirmed he will leave the Nationals after what he said was an irreparable breakdown in the relationship.

Hours after reports rose that the New England MP was in "advanced talks" with One Nation, Joyce announced he would not recontest his seat at the next election and cited policy differences with the Nationals Party.

But he stopped short of saying whether he would defect to Hanson's conservative party.

READ MORE: Sweeping reforms set to hit every school across Australia

Hanson, speaking from Joyce's hometown of Tamworth today, tried to encourage him to make the move to her party.

"Barnaby, I'll open the doors for you. Come across to One Nation," she told 9News. 

"Barnaby is more aligned with One Nation than what he is with the Nationals Party."

Her plea came just moments after Joyce released a statement about speculation of his departure from the Nationals – a party he's been a member of since 1995. 

"My relationship with the leadership of the Nationals in Canberra has unfortunately, like a sadness in some marriages, irreparably broken down," he said in a statement.

"The instructions that during the federal election I was not to campaign outside New England as that did not represent the views of the Nationals, then after the election being moved on for 'generational change' and just the atmospherics in the party room, where I am seated in the far corner of the Coalition in the chamber, means I am seen and now turning into a discordant note.

"That is not who I want to be.

"More importantly our position in continuing to support Net Zero with the massive schism and hurt to my electorate, to small businesses, to the environment, to the poor, to the defence of Australia and creating hate between lifelong friends in my community makes continuing in the Nationals' Party Room in Canberra under this policy untenable."

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's stance on net zero has spurred infighting, with senior Liberal Andrew Hastie and his colleague Jonathon Duniam publicly raising concerns over the matter.

READ MORE: The Great Barrier Reef is facing 'catastrophic' risks – don't despair

Joyce said he will complete his term as New England MP but will not run for the seat at the next election.

"I am free to now consider all options as to what I do next," he said.

Joyce, a former Queensland Senator who resigned to contest New England, first won over the regional northern NSW seat in 2013.

The 58-year-old has held the 111,000 voter-strong electorate since.

He was elected as the Nationals leader and sworn in as deputy prime minister in 2016 and maintained his position during a cabinet reshuffle the following year and at the next federal election.

His dramatic fall from grace within the party led to him quitting both of those roles in 2018 amid pressure over his relationship with his former staffer Vikki Campion.

Joyce then returned as leader of the party in 2021, before losing the role to David Littleproud after a three-way contest in 2022.

Littleproud, who took the Nationals through its own separation with the Liberals before the reunification earlier this year, has refused to comment on Joyce's announcement.

Joyce's colleagues, however, were saddened to learn of the news, with some going as far as to label his decision "rash".

"This is a sad day both for me and for our great party," Nationals Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie said.

"To turn his back on the party which gifted him the deputy prime ministership twice, I think it's a rash decision, I think it's the wrong decision, I'm very disappointed in the decision," Nationals MP Michael McCormack said.

Liberal shadow communications minister Melissa McIntosh said she would prefer to see Joyce join the frontbench with her.

If Joyce defects to One Nation, he could take other dissatisfied colleagues with him, giving Hanson a major win and deepening the rift within the Coalition.

One Nation's vote has nearly doubled from 6.4 per cent at this year's federal election to 12 per cent in the latest Resolve political monitor.

Hanson said this was because there is a "movement" happening in Australia.

"People are fed up with the major political parties," she said. 

Just last week, the Nationals Tamworth branch chairman, Steven Coxhead, quit after a decade in the role to defect to One Nation.

"I have resigned as I believe the party does not adequately represent NSW regional and rural voters any more," he said.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

If a single player wins tonight, they will be among the top major Lotto winners this year.

The White House yesterday joined Bluesky, the social media platform of choice of many in the left-leaning online world.

In its inaugural post, the White House account offered a sizzle reel of the administration's memes, trolls and messages from President Donald Trump’s nine months since returning to office.

The post appeared aimed at tweaking liberals who aren’t fans of the Republican president.

READ MORE: 'Relationship irreparably broke down': Barnaby Joyce to leave the Nationals

https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1979297874031555036

The first post included mentions of the administration’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico, a doctored image of Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries adorned in a sombrero with a faux mustache, and stream of photos and video from other big moments in the early going of Trump’s second term.

“What’s up, Bluesky?” the White House said in a message accompanying the video.

”We thought you might’ve missed some of our greatest hits, so we put this together for you. Can’t wait to spend more quality time together!”

Disgruntled X users began flocking to Bluesky – which was created by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey – after billionaire Elon Musk took over Twitter (now known as X) in 2022, and the platform reported a surge in new users late last year.

READ MORE: From the late queen's favourite son to accused: How royal was brought down by scandal

It remains small compared to more established online spaces such as X, but it has emerged as an alternative for those looking for a different mood.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security also launched Bluesky accounts yesterday.

Vice President JD Vance joined Bluesky in June.

Trump’s social media platform of choice is Truth Social.

Trump is the biggest shareholder in Trump Media & Technology Group, the company that owns Truth Social.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

John Funnell is a well-known ex-rescue chopper pilot and was awarded NZ’s bravery medal.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has been forced to walk back a comment making light of stabbings in Melbourne, a day after footage emerged of a woman being randomly attacked in broad daylight.

Speaking at a Newscorp event in Brisbane ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Crisafulli was asked about how he planned to attract business from interstate.

"I'll tell you another thing I can offer. If they live in Melbourne, they've got a place that's dealing with youth crime, and they won't get stabbed. That's a good start," he said yesterday.

READ MORE: 'Relationship irreparably broke down': Barnaby Joyce to leave the Nationals

"And if they're in Sydney, that's a place that's dealing with traffic congestion.

"We are focusing on dealing with transport, and that's a point of difference for New South Wales. We are focusing on dealing with youth crime, and that's a point of difference for Victoria."

Crisafulli's comments drew a mixed reaction after shocking CCTV footage obtained this week showed the moment when 36-year-old Wan Lai was left with a punctured lung after she was allegedly attacked seemingly at random in Melbourne CBD on October 2.

Lai had left her apartment to walk to work when footage showed a woman running up from behind while holding what appeared to be a ball in one hand and a knife in another.

The woman confronted her, stabbed her, and took off again while Lai crumpled to the ground.  

While a 32-year-old woman is currently behind bars charged over the incident, Lai has been left unable to work or leave her home by herself.

READ MORE: 'She's still very scared when she's in public': Family of Melbourne stabbing victim speak out

The attack has also stirred fear within the wider community, with the state's opposition calling for tougher crime laws.

In a statement issued later that same day, the Premier apologised for the "poor choice of words".

"It was a poor choice of words because every victim matters, regardless of where they live, and I apologise for any distress," he said.

"I'm fully aware of the realities of crime and knife crime in Queensland, which is why we are working every day to keep driving down victim numbers through initiatives such as Jack's Law.

"No one can guarantee there'll be no crime, but that should never deter us from driving down victim numbers."

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Kiwis can enter 186 countries visa-free but the latest rankings carry a warning.

Once widely reputed to be Queen Elizabeth's favourite son and feted as a dashing young military officer, Britain's Prince Andrew will now always be seen in the public eye as the royal who was accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl. Andrew has repeatedly denied the allegation.

Andrew, 65, said he would give up his title of Duke of York after years of criticism about his connections to the late, disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The brother of King Charles was accused by Virginia Giuffre of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager at properties owned by Epstein or his associates, and in February 2022 he made an undisclosed payment to settle a US lawsuit.

READ MORE: 'Relationship irreparably broke down': Barnaby Joyce to leave the Nationals

By the Queen's side

While he admitted no wrongdoing, Andrew – who had already stepped down as a working royal over his relationship with Epstein and following a disastrous BBC interview in which he had hoped to clear his name – was stripped of his military links, royal patronages and 'His Royal Highness' moniker.

"I never have really partied," he told the BBC.

"I was single for quite a long time in the early 80s but then after I got married, I was very happy and I've never really felt the need to go and party and certainly going to Jeffrey's was not about partying."

Increasingly unloved by the public, he was cast aside by his family who saw him as an embarrassment who might cause lasting damage to their whole institution.

READ MORE: Sweeping reforms set to hit every school across Australia

Only his late mother seemed to retain her affections, allowing him to escort her into a memorial service for her husband Prince Philip in March 2022.

His public appearances thereafter were limited to major family occasions such as the funeral of the queen later that year and his brother's coronation in 2023.

Earlier in his career, he served in the navy for 22 years and in 2001 he was named the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, a role he held until he was pilloried for his connections to Epstein.

Until that point, Andrew was probably best known for his 1986 marriage to the vivacious, flame-haired Sarah Ferguson, or "Fergie" as she was dubbed by the press.

READ MORE: Trump says he has commuted sentence of disgraced former politician

They separated in 1992, not long after he moved to a desk job at the Ministry of Defence so he could be at home more.

It was a year of travails and scandals for the royal family, which the queen described as an "annus horribilis".

Andrew was said to be devastated by the break-up from his wife, who described him as a gentle man who deserved to be loved.

The couple had two children, Beatrice and Eugenie, and the family remained close and on good terms after they divorced in 1996, going on holiday together and sharing the same house.

READ MORE: The Great Barrier Reef is facing 'catastrophic' risks – don't despair

'Air Miles Andy'

After leaving the military, Andrew's personal life still hit the headlines.

Tabloids linked him to a series of women, from swimwear models to entrepreneurs. Photographs appeared of Andrew cavorting on yachts or sunbathing surrounded by topless women.

The papers dubbed him "Air Miles Andy" for his jetset lifestyle.

But his long-term friendship with Epstein, who was jailed in 2008 for child sex offences, began to haunt him.

READ MORE: Trump in f-bomb blast as tensions rise between US and Venezuela

He was forced to quit his roving trade ambassador job in 2011 and Giuffre filed her allegations against him in 2015.

To critics, his downfall was a consequence of an arrogance and sense of entitlement.

A former royal protection officer told an ITV documentary that Andrew would throw tantrums if the teddy bears on his bed were moved.

With his reputation declining, Andrew turned his focus to a scheme called "Pitch@Palace", which aimed to use his royal influence to help young tech entrepreneurs find partners and investors.

READ MORE: Former Trump adviser pleads not guilty in classified documents case

But his royal world came crashing down not long after he gave what turned out to be a calamitous interview to BBC TV to explain why Giuffre's account of meeting him sweating and dancing at a London nightclub before having sex with him could not be true.

He was ridiculed for saying he went to see Epstein in New York to tell him he could no longer be seen with him, for saying Giuffre's story was wrong because he was visiting a pizza restaurant to celebrate his daughter's birthday on the night in question, and for saying he was unable to sweat.

READ MORE: The world is heading to add 57 superhot days a year

He was also criticised for failing to show sympathy for those who say they were abused by Epstein and for saying he was not sorry about his friendship with the financier.

"I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein," he said in a later statement as he quit official royal duties.

But it came too late to save his reputation.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Auckland Council says 4162 special votes were ruled invalid after checks.

Police say the crash circumstances remain under investigation.