John Barilaro invited to Christmas with new partner Jennifer Lugsdin

Having separated from his wife of 27 years John Barilaro has moved on with the new woman in his life who has invited the former deputy premier to share Christmas with her family.

Assuming Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce manages to find the Ashes cricket coverage on his TV at Washington’s Jefferson Hotel, his Christmas might not be a total write-off.

But as things stand this weekend, it is looking decidedly grim for Joyce, who is in the US on a work trip and was diagnosed with Covid-19 on Wednesday.

Barnaby_Joyce has tested positive for COVID and been forced to isolate while on official business in the US.

The Deputy Prime Minister is now psyching up to potentially spend Christmas in a confined (albeit rather luxurious) space, surrounded by goodwill hampers from home yet separated from his family as he quarantines either abroad or locally.

And by “family” I of course mean “families” — the four adult daughters he has with ex-wife Natalie and the two young sons he fathered with his former staffer Vikki Campion.

The life of a politician can be a lonely business and for their long-suffering partner at home it can be lonelier still.

Christmas is for many pollies the one time of the year their children and loved ones can depend on them being home, sitting on the couch in their favourite singlet, lounging in the pool and making amends for the long days they’ve spent away during the parliamentary sitting year.

Joyce – and his six children – may have to be satisfied with a Zoom link this Christmas.

But Joyce isn’t the only Nationals politician who will be missing from the home hearth this Christmas.

John Barilaro with his Deanna, his wife of 27 years who has now separated from.

Another navigating uncharted territory in a year when most families are making up for precious lost time with loved ones is the MP for Monaro and former deputy state premier John Barilaro.

Having separated from his wife of 27 years Deanna this year, Barilaro is making plans for new Christmas traditions in 2021.

While his web page on Friday claimed Barilaro “still lives in Queanbeyan with his wife Deanna and their three daughters” and featured a smiling photo of the clan, this columnist has learned Barilaro has spent recent weeks ingratiating himself to the family of his new partner, Jennifer Lugsdin.

For two years Lugsdin worked as the MP’s senior media adviser.

Braidwood estate where the Barilaros usually spend Christmas.

Jennifer Lugsdin (left) and friends at Randwick Racecourse in 2020. Picture: Facebook

That role ended in August when the lithe 40-something, who this column understands is a keen runner, transferred to another government job with Investment NSW.

Like Barilaro, Lugsdin recently separated from her husband David.

Importantly the former media adviser should not be confused with 23-year-old Bridgette Joyce, the daughter of Barnaby and another member of Barilaro’s staff to whom he was recently incorrectly linked.

Joyce vehemently denied the rumours in October, days after Barilaro announced he was quitting politics.

Lugsdin – who once worked as communications manager for Liberal MP John Alexander – has invited Barilaro to spend Christmas with family in North Epping.

It’s likely to be a complete change of pace from his usual Christmases spent at the Barilaro’s nine-hectare rural property Dungowan in Oallen, where the Barilaro family enjoy a tennis court, mineral pool, lake, boatshed and barn that can accommodate 20.

News of Barilaro’s Christmas plans comes nine weeks after this column revealed the MP and his wife had split — a revelation that may have messed with the MP’s planned sale of his luxury Rushcutters Bay unit.

The property was to go to auction on October 30 but Barilaro cancelled the auction, with records showing the unit sold on October 29, although no price is listed.

Expectations for the unit, which was jointly owned with Deanna, were for $1.55 million.

No word on where Barilaro is currently living.

The MP couldn’t be reached for comment or to furnish us with an address yesterday. Lugsdin also could not be reached.