Barnaby Joyce bottom pinch claims rejected by Nationals leader, PM’s office

A WOMAN claims National Party leader Barnaby Joyce drunkenly pinched her on the bottom following a 2011 awards ceremony — an allegation denied by the MP and rejected by the Prime Minister’s office when it was raised four years later.

A WOMAN claims National Party leader Barnaby Joyce drunkenly pinched her on the bottom following a 2011 awards ceremony — an allegation denied by the MP and rejected by the Prime Minister’s office when it was raised four years later.

The explosive allegation — involving Mr Joyce when he was in Opposition — was raised by a political rival with Malcolm Turnbull’s principal private secretary Sally Cray in December 2015 who said nothing could be done because no complaint had been made and there was no evidence that Mr Joyce had engaged in any wrongdoing.

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The woman, a well respected community member, claims she approached Mr Joyce after expressing concerns over his interaction with another woman following the Rural Women’s Agricultural Awards in Canberra.

She claimed on Monday night: “I went over to the bar and he was very, very drunk and nearly falling over. I said ‘Barnaby, I think you should go home. You’re very drunk’.

“He leant over and he pinched my bottom.”

Her claims were supported by John Clements — a former staff member for Joyce’s long-term political rival Tony Windsor.

PM Malcolm Turnbull and Barnaby Joyce celebrates his win in the New England by-election with a beer. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

The other woman, whose initial encounter with Mr Joyce prompted the second woman to approach the MP, has strongly denied anything inappropriate took place.

A spokesman for Mr Joyce denied the incident happened, saying Mr Joyce did not attend a pub or nightclub after the awards.

He said the fact the claims came from a long-time political rival, should give everyone pause for thought.

Mr Clements claimed he confronted Mr Joyce after the incident.

“I was in the pub and a woman who I’ve known for a long time walked up to me, and she was rattled,” he claimed.

“I’ve never seen her rattled and she said she had been pinched on the bum and she pointed at the man. It was Barnaby Joyce. I approached Joyce and asked him what he thought he was doing.”

Mr Clements raised the issue with Ms Cray, one of the Prime Minister’s closest confidantes. A text message exchange between Mr Clements and Ms Cray on December 30, 2015 has been obtained by the Herald Sun.

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