Veterans’ affairs minister told Barnaby Joyce he was quitting due to budget ‘disgrace’

Scott Morrison claims minister did not properly understand' budget process

• Scott Morrison says it would have been weakness' for him to meet new Chinese ambassador
• Follow the Guardian's Australia news live blog
• Get our free news app; get our morning email briefing

The Australian veterans' affairs minister, Andrew Gee, was on the cusp of offering his resignation from cabinet following a major stoush over department funding days out from the federal budget.

In a major attack on the federal government, Gee called a press conference on Saturday morning to announce he would quit the frontbench after being refused $96m in funding before the deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, finally intervened.