MPs slam Barnaby Joyce, Vikki Campion abortion ‘conspiracy’
POLITICIANS are ‘not reality TV stars’, senior Turnbull Government Minister Peter Dutton said, as drama continues to surround Barnaby Joyce.
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POLITICIANS are “not reality TV stars”, senior Turnbull Government Minister Peter Dutton said, as drama continues to surround Barnaby Joyce.
The former Deputy Prime Minister has taken $150,000 for a tell-all interview with Channel Seven in which he will discuss his affair with former staffer Vikki Campion and their love child Sebastian.
Mr Dutton said he did not agree with what Mr Joyce had done, but that he hoped his friend would be able to move on with his private life “out of the public eye”.
“It’s not been a pleasant affair from day one,” he told radio 2GB.
“People’s private lives are their private lives. All of us in politics sign up to a public life but I do think that there’s a point where we really want to concentrate on what’s important to people.
“I’m not much into the salacious detail. What happens in people’s homes belongs in people’s homes.
“There are plenty of families where people have affairs, kids get hurt, both parties in the relationship get hurt.
“It’s just unfortunate in this case it’s played out publicly.”
He said he wanted the best outcome for Mr Joyce, his daughters, estranged wife Natalie Joyce and his new family.
“I just hope they can at some stage soon move on with their lives and not in the public eye from a relationship perspective,” Mr Dutton said.
“We’re not reality TV stars, we’re people who want to make a difference, govern and make decisions and in my case that are going to keep our community safer.”
Meanwhile, Coalition MPs have slammed claims by Joyce and Campion that they were pressured to abort their baby.
Coalition MPs have labelled the claims “ridiculous”, but said they felt for the former deputy prime minister after he took personal leave amid the public backlash.
In a promotional clip for a controversial interview with Channel 7’s Sunday Night program – for which the network paid $150,000 – the couple said there “were people who tried to stop the baby being born”.
Confusion emerged yesterday about the length of time Mr Joyce has taken personal leave.
He tweeted he was taking leave only until June 15, which contradicts a statement by Nationals whip Michelle Landry who said he was away “until the end of June”.
“Contrary to reports, I’m taking leave until June 15 following a routine check up. The medical certificate provided allowed for a month,” Mr Joyce’s tweet said.
“I look forward to resuming parliamentary duties.
“The electorate office will continue normal operations in this fortnight.”
Ms Landry said Mr Joyce “came to me” and “requested personal leave – effective immediately, running to the end of June”.
“Given his circumstances, and in consultation with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chief Government Whip, I approved his leave request,” she said.
In the Channel 7 clip, Ms Campion said there was “political pressure” placed on the pair to have an abortion.
“They said if you don’t, they’re going to come after you,” she said. Mr Joyce is then heard to say: “They did.”
Mr Joyce’s colleagues yesterday said he was clearly under “considerable pressure”.
“Who are ‘they’?” one Coalition MP asked.
“We are now talking about conspiracy theories.”
Mr Joyce has denied he will benefit from the interview and said the money was going into a trust for their son Sebastian.
Earlier this week, Mr Joyce said the interview was Ms Campion’s idea.
It is understood Mr Joyce left Canberra after being granted the leave on Tuesday night.
Mr Joyce left his wife Natalie after having an affair with Ms Campion, who was his media advisor at the time.
Ms Campion’s father Peter yesterday hit out at media criticism of his daughter, saying the “envy is palpable and sickening”.
“It seems the media think it’s OK to make money and score ideological points out of Baanaby (sic) and his family while prohibiting them making money and scoring ideological points out of the media,” he said.
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