The Deputy Prime Minister went home to Armidale on Thursday and has been caught up in the latest NSW outbreak that put the regional centre in lockdown on Saturday.

The ACT health authorities told Joyce he can’t attend parliament, which is sitting for four days this week, after stay-at-home orders were imposed on the Armidale Regional Council local government area.

Joyce’s National Press Club speech in Canberra on Wednesday, his first since returning to the Nationals leadership, has been cancelled.