Barnaby Joyce resigns as Deputy Prime Minister to fight claims of sexual misconduct
AFTER weeks of unrelenting pressure about his affair with former staff member, Barnaby Joyce has spectacularly resigned as Deputy PM to fight claims of sexual misconduct as a divided Coalition plunges to new levels of internal mistrust.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- It was the last straw for Barnaby
- The life and times of Barnaby
- Joyce handover could be sweet revenge
- Credlin: PM’s office knew of ‘Barnaby affair’
MAVERICK Barnaby Joyce has spectacularly resigned as Deputy Prime Minister to fight claims of sexual misconduct – and will rely on text messages to help clear his name – as a divided Coalition plunges to new levels of internal mistrust.
After weeks of unrelenting pressure about his affair with former staff member Vikki Campion, Mr Joyce yesterday demoted himself to the backbench to provide a “circuit-breaker” for his pregnant lover, his estranged wife and four daughters, and a divided National Party that felled him.
Mr Joyce, who claims Malcolm Turnbull’s office was behind leaks against him, did not inform the Prime Minister that he intended to resign.
He advised Acting PM Mathias Cormann of his decision and Mr Turnbull found out as alerts flashed up on Australian journalists’ phones in Washington. The Nationals will elect a new leader in a special party room meeting on Monday, with NSW MP Michael McCormack shaping up as the likely winner.
Asked if the Coalition agreement needed to be rewritten, acting Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie said she had spoken to Mr Turnbull and “we see this being a seamless and successful transition by Tuesday morning”.
Questions remain whether Mr McCormack will reward his supporters with Cabinet positions and be forced to demote others, including Queenslanders Matt Canavan and David Littleproud.
While it is likely Mr Joyce will keep a low profile while he writes a book and his son is born in April, many believe he will become the Nationals’ unofficial leader.
Chief whip Michelle Landry said Mr Joyce had already pledged he would campaign with her to keep her marginal Queensland seat of Capricornia.
“I don’t think anyone is as well known as Barnaby,” she said Ms Landry said she did not want any of those who backgrounded against Mr Joyce to be rewarded on Monday.
A chorus of Nationals MPs and party heavyweights heaped praise on Mr Joyce and his legacy yesterday, but said he had made the right decision.
However, it is understood at least one urged him to keep fighting.
The Courier-Mail can reveal Mr Joyce, who will take a $200,000 pay cut, made the decision late on Thursday night to resign after it was publicly revealed a West Australian woman had made a formal complaint about his behaviour to National Party president Larry Anthony.
Mr Joyce rang a key group of supporters yesterday morning to tell them his decision.
Highly-placed sources say the interaction between the woman and Mr Joyce 18 months ago was “consensual” and Mr Joyce would be seeking text messages on an old phone to prove his case. Mr Joyce said the complaint should be referred to police.
The woman, represented by Gold Coast lawyers Salerno Law, made a written complaint on the basis her identity remained confidential.
Rumours swirled yesterday the complaint had been withdrawn, sparking some Nationals to question the validity of the claim. However, the woman’s lawyers told The Courier-Mail their client was still pursuing the matter.
Just days after telling the country he would not be bullied into resigning, Mr Joyce said the latest allegations were the last straw.
“I’ve asked for the right of the person who’s made the allegation and I’ve asked for my right of defence that that be referred to the police,’’ Mr Joyce said. “But it’s quite evident that you can’t go to the dispatch box with issues like that surrounding you. I want to assist my colleagues, where I can, to keep their seats and also, quite naturally, in April, a baby will be born. I’ll have other things on my mind.
“It’s absolutely important ... that there be a circuit-breaker, not just for the Parliament, but more importantly, a circuit-breaker for Vikki, for my unborn child, my daughters and for Nat (his estranged wife).
“This has got to stop. It’s not fair on them. It’s just completely and utterly unwarranted, the sort of observation that’s happened.”
He said he would not “snipe”, a sentiment Tony Abbott pledged when he was rolled by Mr Turnbull.
Yesterday, Mr Abbott attacked Mr Turnbull over his handling of the matter.
“While he (Joyce) could have handled personal issues better, part of the problem has been poor management at the most senior levels of government,” Mr Abbott said.
Mr Abbott’s former chief of staff Peta Credlin told Sky News: “Malcolm Turnbull has lost the one bloke who always defended him.”
She claimed the PM’s office had been holding meetings for months about “how to handle the Barnaby affair”.
One of Mr Joyce’s closest colleagues, Senator Canavan, paid tribute to the former leader and his estranged wife.
“Barnaby has made mistakes but I am sure he will recover, learn and be a better person ... He now has a new partner and a new child to care for and that is much more important than any of his achievements in public life.”
Mr Littleproud described Mr Joyce as “the best Nationals leader and deputy prime minister in living memory”.
Originally published as Barnaby Joyce resigns as Deputy Prime Minister to fight claims of sexual misconduct