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US technology entrepreneur John McAfee has hanged himself in his prison cell after the Spanish high court authorised his extradition to the United States on tax evasion charges, his lawyer says.

Known for his eccentric behaviour, McAfee, 75, was a pioneer of anti-virus software, introducing his eponymous program in the 1980s. He had been indicted in Tennessee on tax evasion charges. He also was charged in a cryptocurrency fraud case in New York.

McAfee was arrested in Barcelona airport then jailed there in October. Prison authorities were investigating the cause of death.

Spain's high court agreed to extradite McAfee to the US, a court document released on Wednesday said. The provincial justice department confirmed that a US man aged 75 was found dead in his cell on Wednesday.

McAfee still had opportunities to appeal his conviction but could not stand more time in jail, the lawyer Javier Villalba said.

"This is the result of a cruel system that had no reason to keep this man in jail for so long," Villalba said.

During a court hearing last month, McAfee said that given his age, he would spend the rest of his life in jail if he were to be convicted in the US.

"I am hoping that the Spanish court will see the injustice of this," he said, adding "the United States wants to use me as an example".

McAfee, who sold his software company to Intel in 2011 and no longer had any involvement in the business, lived a colourful life.

He said in 2019 that he had not paid US income taxes for eight years for ideological reasons. That year, he left the US to avoid trial, largely living on a mega-yacht with his wife, four large dogs, two security guards and seven staff.

He offered to help Cuba avoid a US trade embargo using cryptocurrency and sought to run for US president for the Libertarian Party.

McAfee, who said in 2018 that he had fathered at least 47 children, lived in Belize for several years. He fled after police sought him for questioning in the 2012 murder of a neighbour. He had one million followers on Twitter.

He met his wife, Janice McAfee, when she solicited him as a prostitute while he was on the run, he said.

Janice McAfee said in a post on Twitter on Sunday, "Now the US authorities are determined to have John die in prison to make an example of him for speaking out against the corruption within their government agencies.There is no hope of him ever having a fair trial in America."

In December 2019, John McAfee tweeted: "Getting subtle messages from US officials saying, in effect: 'We're coming for you McAfee! We're going to kill yourself'. I got a tattoo today just in case. If I suicide myself, I didn't. I was whackd. [sic] Check my right arm."

© RAW 2021

A rare 1977 Holden Torana A9X, originally destined for the racetrack, is about to go under the hammer with bidding expected around $1 million.

The two-door hatchback was essentially one of just 33 produced by Holden and is considered one of Australia's most sort-after muscle cars.

"This is the holy grail of Holden motor collector cars," Lloyds Auctions chief Lee Hames said.

"Since Holden closed their doors many muscle car enthusiasts have been mourning the loss of performance cars."

Holden built the 33 A9X hatchback shells in 1977, enough to last the expected racing life for the model.

They were double seam welded, all painted white and sold exclusively to race teams.

But Lloyds said there was considerable uproar from rival teams when the word got out the shells were built with thinner gauge steel, making them considerably lighter than standard production cars they were supposed to mirror.

Internal and external pressings, such as hinges and bumpers, were also lighter and even the glass in the rear hatch was one-millimetre thinner.

Holden said the variation was a result of changing to metric measurements and after an investigation threatened to withdraw from racing if the shells were not approved.

Three of the shells were bought by racing team boss Ron Hodgson, who immediately had two built out for the track, keeping a third as a spare.

Two years later, after the model was to be replaced with the first of the Commodores, Hodgson gave instructions to build the untouched shell into a road car, which is the one up for grabs on Saturday.

The car has just 475 kilometres on the clock.

Mr Hames said with recent high prices paid for rare Holdens, he wouldn't be surprised to see a record for the Torana with bids topping $1 million.

In recent auctions, one of the last Holden Commodores to be built in Adelaide sold for $750,000, another A9X Torana sold for $910,000 and a Holden Maloo Ute sold for $1.1 million.

© AAP 2021

Scott Morrison has warned government members that failure to regain focus after the Nationals leadership spill could cost the coalition re-election.

The prime minister addressed a joint coalition partyroom meeting via video link on Tuesday with the dust still settling on federal parliament's latest leadership coup.

Barnaby Joyce was sworn in as deputy prime minister at Government House hours earlier, completing a stunning political comeback.

Mr Morrison told coalition MPs and senators that having a clear plan, staying united and having an ability to "get stuff done" could deliver victory.

"If we fail on those things, we will hand the reins of government to those who are not fit to handle them and we will regret that forever," he said.

"We've got to focus. No time for individual agendas or pet projects."

He said voters would be sent to the polls "within the year".

With Mr Morrison still in quarantine, Mr Joyce returned to Question Time in the prime minister's usual place with a typically rambunctious performance.

He attacked Labor leader Anthony Albanese after being asked why he was focused on his own job rather than regional Australians.

"I am this man's biggest backer. I want you to be there for the long haul. I don't want you going anywhere," Mr Joyce shouted as he thumped the despatch box.

Mr Albanese told a Labor caucus meeting Mr Joyce had failed in his first stint as deputy prime minister and in all ministerial jobs he previously held.

The Nationals leader has taken the infrastructure, transport and regional development portfolios held by Michael McCormack, who he toppled in a leadership ballot.

Mr Morrison said Mr McCormack's performance to front Question Time after being defeated was "100 per cent classy" and would be important in healing divisions.

"The events can be disruptive but we're all professionals," the prime minister told colleagues.

Mr Joyce will now turn his attention to outlining policy and power demands in a new coalition agreement with the Liberals.

He is expected to solidify the Nationals' opposition to agreeing to a 2050 net zero carbon emissions target.

At the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Joyce was flanked by partner and former staffer Vikki Campion, who rose to prominence when the couple's affair was splashed across newspapers in early 2018.

Their two children Sebastian and Thomas also attended.

Mr Joyce's affair with Ms Campion triggered a firestorm of scandals including another woman making sexual harassment allegations against him, which he fiercely denies.

Labor questioned how women in regional Australia would receive his return after WA Nationals leader Mia Davies expressed disappointment with the change.

Deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud said election day would prove whether voters accepted the decision.

"As Barnaby said, he hasn't been perfect in the past. He's learnt from that," he told reporters.

"But I think it's important he's given the opportunity to prove that he has learnt and he needs to do that with actions. If he's given that opportunity, he'll provide it."

While Mr Littleproud will stay in charge of agriculture, Mr Joyce is expected to reward supporters with promotions when the ministry is reshuffled later in the week.

© AAP 2021