Parents can’t touch money but Barnaby Joyce will still have to declare sum

AT JUST six weeks old, Sebastian Joyce is set to become $150,000 richer with his parents — Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion — directing the profits of an exclusive television deal to their son. VOTE IN OUR POLL

First pictures of Barnaby Joyce's newborn son Sebastian in April. Picture: Seven News

AT JUST six weeks old, Sebastian Joyce is to be a $150,000 trust fund kid, with his parents Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion directing the proceeds of a TV tell-all to their son.

The move by the former Nationals leader and his ex-staffer to give an exclusive interview to Seven’s Sunday Night has stunned some of his colleagues, given just three months ago he had appealed for privacy.

One cabinet minister told The Sunday Telegraph it was a “tacky” stunt.

Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion head for a cafe with baby Sebastian wrapped up against a cold New England day earlier this month. Picture: Diimex

“His actions really hurt us in the polls earlier in the year but we were back on track,” the front­bencher said.

“It makes you wonder whether he is even interested in the Government doing well. He is ­unbelievable.”

Another government source said the couple may have agreed to the interview for financial reasons, given Mr Joyce’s $400,000-plus salary was halved when he quit the Nationals leadership and ministry.

Going solo at Question Time last week.

It is understood Mr Joyce also continues to contribute to the education of his other four children, while facing a further financial hit with his divorce.

However, an industry insider said the money had gone into a trust fund for Sebastian to be independently administered at a future date.

“The baby’s parents have no say in it and cannot access it,” the insider said.

Mr Joyce with Vikki Campion at Canberra airport before Sebastian arrived. Picture: Kym Smith

Mr Joyce and Ms Campion relaxed at Palm Cove in Queensland in December.

“Lawyers ultimately get to ­decide if it should be accessed for the child’s education or if it will go to the child as a lump sum when he gets to 18 or possibly older.”

Despite not pocketing the cash himself, Mr Joyce will still have to declare the windfall on the parliamentary register of members’ interests, which requires the income of any dependants to also be disclosed.

Ms Campion on assignment as a Daily Telegraph journalist in 2014. Picture: Adam Taylor

The Weekend Australian broke the story on Saturday, revealing the interview will be conducted by Sunday Night ­reporter Alex Cullen.

Seven’s Director of News and Public Affairs Craig McPherson declined to comment on the trust fund.

The baby scandal hijacked the Turnbull government agenda for weeks after it was exposed in early February, with questions over whether Ms Campion’s employment in National Party offices put Mr Joyce in breach of the ministerial code of conduct.

The code says partners can’t be employed by any other minister without prime ministerial approval.

The controversy forced Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to introduced a “bonk ban”, prohibiting ­sexual relations with staff.

Mr Joyce resigned on February 22, but not before humiliating tit-for-tat press conferences with Mr Turnbull, which saw the PM describe the actions of his former deputy as “a shocking error of judgment”.

TIMELINE: HOW BARNIKKI EVOLVED

At the height of the scandal, Mr Joyce appealed for privacy, declaring he did not want his son to “grow up as some sort of public display”.

But in March, Mr Joyce made headlines after suggesting he may not be the father of the baby, declaring it “a grey area”.

After the April 16 birth the happy father said he was sure Sebastian was, in fact, his son.