During the 2017 parliamentary eligibility crisis, Joyce was confirmed to be a dual citizen of New Zealand. On 27 October 2017, the High Court of Australia ruled that he had been ineligible to be a candidate for the House of Representatives at the time of the 2016 election. Joyce re-entered parliament in December 2017 after winning the New England by-election with a large swing against low-profile opposition. In February 2018, he resigned his ministerial and leadership roles after acknowledging that he was in a relationship and expecting a child with a former staffer. He was succeeded by Michael McCormack, but returned as leader of the Nationals on 21 June 2021, following a leadership spill.