The Bonking Ban explained: Why it matters
Australia’s Prime Minister is now in open conflict with his deputy. But since Malcolm Turnbull cannot fire Barnaby Joyce, he has slapped a bonking ban on his colleagues. Here’s everything you need to know.
Opinion
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DEPUTY Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is defiantly refusing to resign as leader of the National Party in the wake of his scandal over the affair with a former staffer.
The extraordinary press conference has put the Prime Minister and his deputy in open conflict.
What the Prime Minister said: “Barnaby (Joyce) made a shocking error of judgment in having an affair with a young woman working in his office. In doing so, he has set off a world of woe for those women and appalled all of us.” Read the statement here.
What is the bonking ban?: “Ministers, regardless of whether they are married or single, must not engage in sexual relations with their staff. Doing so will constitute a breach of the standards.”
Barnaby’s response: He said the comments were “inept”, “unnecessary” and “hurtful”.
“I thought that was completely unnecessary and all that is going to do is basically pull the scab off to everybody to have a look at.”
What the commentators are saying:
“Through selfishness, arrogance and a head-in-the-sand insistence he has done nothing wrong, Barnaby Joyce has strangled the Turnbull government and hijacked its agenda,” Daily Telegraph journalist Sharri Markson says.
Ann Wason Moore compared the BarnaBaby saga to Married at First Sight, saying “wedded bliss is becoming the butt of all jokes”.
Tim Blair pointed out that even though Malcolm Turnbull has lost confidence in Barnaby Joyce, the PM is largely powerless.
The Daily Telegraph Editorial pointed out that “Because Turnbull cannot fire Joyce, he has banned sex between ministers and their staff.”
What the politicians are saying about the bonking ban:
● “It sends a message to the Australian people that somehow the parliament is some insatiable orgy, and it just isn’t,” Nationals MP Andrew Board said on ABC Radio.
● “Australians are pretty tolerant about a bit of casual bonking ... but is it a hanging offence? Should you lose your job over it?” Senator David Leyonhjelm told 3AW.
● “The prime minister’s code of conduct isn’t worth the paper it’s written on ... if common decency doesn’t tell you that it is a problem to sleep with your staff, then changing the code of conduct really doesn’t,” Labor Deputy Leader Tanya Plibersek told ABC Breakfast.
● “The prime minister made a very, very clear statement yesterday of leadership, where he indicated to the women of Australia, and the women who work for us in parliament ... that they should be treated with respect in the workplace,” Liberal MP Christopher Pyne told the Nine Network’s Today Show.
● “You’ll find in corporations and businesses these things happen from time to time ... (but) I respect it, I have no say in it and I intend to adhere to it,” Nationals MP David Littleproud told ABC Radio.
● “(The prime minister) put his hand up and said ‘I’m the prime minister, I think the deputy prime minister is hopeless, he should reconsider his position, he has breached the standards, but I can’t do anything about it,’” Labor’s Anthony Albanese said on Nine’s Today Show.
● “The bonk ban is bonkers! And it shows that the whole attack on Barnaby Joyce is driven by one thing: sex,” Nationals MP George Christensen wrote on Facebook.
● “They’ll have a strong and productive and positive relationship in the future,” Senator Matthias Cormann, upcoming acting prime minister, speaking of Mr Turnbull and Mr Joyce’s relationship.