Political critics call on Barnaby Joyce to quit after TV ‘tell-all’
SENSATIONAL claims people in federal parliament tried to pressure Barnaby Joyce’s lover Vikki Campion into having an abortion won’t be investigated, his successor said today.
NSW
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NATIONALS leader Michael McCormack won’t investigate allegations people in federal parliament tried to pressure Barnaby Joyce’s lover Vikki Campion into having an abortion.
In last night’s controversial TV interview, Ms Campion said she was told by “conservatives” within parliament to have an abortion or risk people “coming after her”.
Mr McCormack, who replaced Mr Joyce as deputy prime minister in February, said he knew nothing of the allegations and defended his Nationals partyroom colleagues.
“They are the finest people in regional Australia and I’m proud to serve with each and every one of them,” Mr McCormack told reporters in Sydney on Monday. “If there’s anything else to be said, that should be between Barnaby and Vikki and whoever they are saying, they are alleging, made the comments.”
Meanwhile social media has been quick to slam the awkward moment Joyce clashed with partner Ms Campion over a controversial statement he made as the affair became public.
The former Deputy Prime Minister claimed in March that the paternity of his former staff member’s unborn child was a “grey area”, a statement that horrified Australia and was splashed across the front pages of the nation’s newspapers.
In last night’s Channel 7 interview, Mr Joyce attempted to distance himself for the comment.
“Yeah, well, it was actually a decision we made together,” he said.
But Ms Campion responded by saying “I didn’t say use the words ‘grey area’. I was deeply hurt by the ‘grey area’ headline.”
Journalist Ben Fordham immediately reacted on Twitter.
“Barnaby attempts to claim the paternity ‘grey area’ line was a joint decision with Vikki. Vikki tells him on national TV he’s dreaming.”
Barnaby attempts to claim the paternity “grey area†line was a joint decision with Vikki. Vikki tells him on national TV he’s dreaming.
— BenFordham (@BenFordham) June 3, 2018
BJ: “We decided jointly to say that.â€
— Georgina Dent (@georgiedent) June 3, 2018
Vicki: “I didn’t ever say use the words “grey areaâ€... that hurt me deeply.’
Oh. Dear. God.
For two parties deeply familiar & even accomplished (once) in media this is gobsmacking.
Critics of Mr Joyce inside federal parliament today called on him to resign after watching the television interview about his affair with a former staffer.
Mr Joyce has admitted to fighting for his political survival despite knowing his job was untenable after Ms Campion fell pregnant.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said it was time for Mr Joyce to move on from public office.
“Barnaby has taken leave from the parliament and I think he should probably pack up his office, go home and spend time with his family,” she told the Seven Network today.
“He will never be the deputy prime minister again. He will never be the leader of the Nationals, and I don’t think he will ever get re-elected in the seat of New England.” Independent senator Derryn Hinch said Mr Joyce had thrown Ms Campion under the bus and was still betraying the National Party.
“I think he will finally quit, he won’t stand for re-election,” Senator Hinch said.
“He can’t get the leadership back, he can’t get back into cabinet.” Ms Campion has claimed she was told by “conservatives” within parliament to abort her child.
In a tear-filled interview on the Seven Network on Sunday, Ms Campion says she couldn’t terminate the pregnancy because her baby Sebastian had a heartbeat.
“And they said if you don’t, they’re going to come after you. And they did.” When asked who suggested the termination, she said “people who are supposed to be conservative”.
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Mr Joyce campaigned and retained his seat of New England in a by-election last December brought about by a High Court ruling that he was a dual citizen.
He resigned the Nationals leadership in late February, weeks after the affair and pregnancy were sensationally revealed in tabloid newspapers. “Toward the end, I was fighting more out of spite than logic,” he said.
He said he knew he would be out of the job by the time Sebastian was born. But Mr Joyce hit out at Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for calling a press conference to criticise his deputy’s judgment.
Senator Hanson-Young said one thing was “absolutely crystal clear” following the interview.
“Thank god Barnaby Joyce is no longer the deputy PM,” she said. “A man of terrible judgment who can’t take responsibility for his own actions and likes to blame everybody else, including the woman sitting by his side, at times.”