Barnaby Joyce: Question marks over his future as Deputy PM emerge

MALCOLM Turnbull’s office has denied any wrongdoing over the decision to hand two jobs to Barnaby Joyce’s girlfriend, as questions marks emerge over Mr Joyce’s future as the Deputy Prime Minister.

MALCOLM Turnbull’s office has denied any wrongdoing over the decision to hand two jobs to Barnaby Joyce’s girlfriend, because the Prime Minister was not aware of their relationship.

The Deputy Prime Minister is under increasing pressure over his affair with former media adviser Vikki Campion, who left his office to work for two other Nationals MPs.

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Malcolm Turnbull’s office says the Prime Minister was not aware of Mr Joyce’s relationship with Vikki Campion.

Labor has urged the government to come clean about whether anything improper occurred in shifting Ms Campion — who is now pregnant — between different offices.

But the Prime Minister’s office maintains Mr Turnbull was not aware of their relationship when approval was given for her to be employed by Resources Minister Matt Canavan and then-Nationals whip Damian Drum.

A spokesman for Mr Turnbull said there had not been a breach of the ministerial code of conduct — which blocks the appointment of relatives or partners without the Prime Minister’s approval — because Ms Campion was not Mr Joyce’s partner at the time.

The spokesman said Mr Turnbull was “not aware of the relationship” and that National Party staffing was a matter for the National Party.

Question marks over Barnaby Joyce’s future as Deputy Prime Minister have emerged as he deals with the fallout of revelations about his affair. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

The Herald Sun understands Nationals MPs are urging their leader to consider his position as they worry about the damage the scandal is doing to the federal government.

It is believed that there is no imminent push to remove Mr Joyce, but some of his colleagues believe they are owed an apology.

And concern is rising about the possible impact of any further revelations.

One Nationals MP said on Sunday night: “I think if this continues, then Barnaby will know he can’t continue to lead the party.

“Sooner or later, he’ll need to put the party, and the government, first.”

Mr Joyce has been under fire since it emerged last week that he is expecting a child with his former media adviser Vikki Campion, with whom he had an affair that ended his 24-year marriage.

Michael McCormack, pictured with Malcolm Turnbull, said the matter would soon resolve itself. Picture Kym Smith

But Veterans’ Affairs Minister Michael McCormack said the matter would soon resolve itself: “Barnaby will continue as the National Party leader, and we’ll all get over this and move on.”

The Herald Sun reported last week that Mr Joyce’s colleagues were “aghast” at his judgment, describing him as being “paranoid”, “irrational” and “vindictive” as he dealt with the drama in his personal life.

A ministerial reshuffle just before Christmas caused internal havoc. The changes, in which Victoria’s Darren Chester was dumped from Cabinet, were described then as “madness” and “baffling”. Other MPs have also raised concerns about ­damage being done to the government with female voters.

Labor on Sunday vowed to pursue Mr Joyce and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over whether Ms Campion had received any special treatment.

Ms Campion was moved to new jobs in the offices of two other Nationals MPs after leaving her role with Mr Joyce’s office.

Mr Joyce maintained the Nationals were responsible for all staffing, and that he had not discussed Ms Campion’s employment with the Prime Minister.

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