Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce clings to power despite affair

THE plot to topple Barnaby Joyce has fallen apart after he stared down angry Nationals colleagues who wanted him to resign, as it emerged Mr Joyce and Vikki Campion worked closely together as she was shuffled to other MPs’ offices.

THE plot to topple Barnaby Joyce has fallen apart, with the embattled Deputy Prime Minister staring down angry Nationals colleagues who want him to resign.

Nationals MPs on Wednesday night said Mr Joyce would “undoubtedly” remain as leader for the time being.

But one MP, who thinks Mr Joyce should go, blamed the “amateur” ­behaviour of colleagues who tried to force him out. That MP told the ­Herald Sun: “They squibbed it. It was amateur hour, to be honest. Talk of delegations before delegations were even formed — it was laughable.”

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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce during Question Time. Picture: Kym Smith

Deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie, in her first public comments since Mr Joyce’s affair with former staffer Vikki Campion was revealed, gave her “absolute rolled-gold guarantee” he would ­remain in charge. She said the idea of asking him to quit was “mystical”.

On Wednesday night it emerged Mr Joyce and Ms Campion worked closely together as she was shuffled to other MPs’ offices to avoid breaching the ministerial code of conduct.

Mr Joyce will today face questions about whether he breached the code by accepting six months’ free rent as a gift from a constituent.

Mr Joyce and Ms Campion were at a number of events while she was working in other offices, including a media opportunity where he mucked about with a fish.

Vikki Campion and National Carp Control Plan co-ordinator Matt Barwick with Barnaby Joyce June 1 last year. Picture: Tom Chesson

Barnaby Joyce with then media adviser and now official partner Vikki Campion at a farm summit in Sydney in 2016.

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Senator McKenzie accused other Nationals of “talking a big game to the media and not delivering”, adding: “Barnaby Joyce has the full support of the party. This is the reality.”

Some Nationals were angry at ­Liberal counterparts attempting to intervene in their party room.

Nationals backbencher Ken O’Dowd said on Wednesday morning a group of colleagues were visiting Mr Joyce to discuss his future, and he hoped the leadership issue would be “resolved today or ­tomorrow”.

But his Queensland colleague George Christensen — who sources suggested would “blow up” if Mr Joyce was replaced — hit out at Nationals MPs pushing for change and said only four or five wanted to get rid of their leader. He confirmed individual MPs had voiced their concerns with Mr Joyce but dismissed suggestions of a delegation asking him to resign.

“Once again it is people talking about themselves down here rather than talking about the Australian public — and people hate that more than a sexual affair,” he said.

“People need to take a long hard look at themselves.”

Senator McKenzie said while there was “unease” about Mr Joyce’s affair, his behaviour was “very human”.

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