Barnaby Joyce affair with former staffer was ‘open secret’ in Canberra says Labor
A SENIOR Labor frontbencher says rumours about Barnaby Joyce’s love affair with a former staffer were “well-known” in Parliament House for six months.
NSW
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A SENIOR Labor frontbencher says rumours about Barnaby Joyce’s love affair with a former staffer were “well-known” in Parliament House for six months.
Coalition and Labor politicians yesterday closed ranks around the Deputy Prime Minister after revelations in The Daily Telegraph Mr Joyce and Vikki Campion were expecting a baby.
But Labor Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen said Mr Joyce’s personal situation was “well-known in this building”.
“I wish him nothing but the best, and his family nothing but the best, and I have absolutely nothing else to say on the matter,” Mr Bowen said.
Mr Joyce’s National colleagues backed their party’s leader, with former assistant trade minister Keith Pitt telling Sky News action should be taken against social media users anonymously spreading rumours about the issue.
“Why should people have an anonymous account that they can just take pot shots, particularly at children, at your family, at your wife, and be unrestricted,” he said. “There is real change we could make that would help people right across the country.”
Nationals senator John Williams said Mr Joyce had spent just 22 nights at home in his first year elected to Parliament.
“That’s pretty tough on a family and I’m sorry to see it ... it’s his private life and I hope it pans out for all of them because they’re all good friends of mine,” Mr Williams said.
Another former Nationals minister, Darren Chester, said he wished Mr Joyce nothing but the best.
“I wish his new partner well and I wish the impending arrival well,” he said.
