New Joyce sexual harassment claim

BARNABY Joyce’s support among his party continued to slide earlier today with NSW Nationals’ Andrew Gee abandoning the Deputy Prime Minister in the lead-up to his 2pm press conference, in which he resigned as leader of the Nationals Party.

BARNABY Joyce’s support among his party continued to slide earlier today with NSW Nationals’ Andrew Gee abandoning the Deputy Prime Minister following a similar move from his Victorian colleague Andrew Broad yesterday.

Mr Joyce addressed the media this afternoon and announced he would be resigning as Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister on Monday.

Earlier today the Nationals confirmed there would be an investigation into allegations about his conduct.

Mr Joyce arrives at Greg Maguire's Armidale townhouse this morning. Picture: Hollie Adams/The Australian

Barnaby Joyce said the claim was “spurious and defamatory”. Picture: John Grainger

Before the fall

Mr Gee this morning warned Mr Joyce that “all bets are off”, although he said had not been contacted by any potential challenger for the leadership.

“Until I have clarification regarding some of the issues about Barnaby I won’t be able to back him but I’m also not in a position to back any challenger,” Mr Gee said.

“I’m backing the electorate and not anyone else and we’ll just have to see what next week brings.”

It comes as acting Prime Minister Mathias Cormann today refused to throw his support behind embattled Barnaby Joyce amid revelations the Nationals Leader is facing a sexual harassment claim.

Asked if the latest scandal to hit Joyce — who was supposed to be acting PM but took a week of leave when The Daily Telegraph revealed his affair with pregnant former staffer Vikki Campion — made his position untenable, Mr Cormann refused to comment.

“The leader of the National Party is determined by the leader of the National Party,” he said at a press conference at Sydney Airport about business tax cuts.

Nationals MP Andrew Gee said “all bets are off”

Andrew Broad yesterday had a cryptic crack at Joyce

“The National Party has received a formal complaint in relation to certain matters. Any allegation of sexual harassment is very serious. Barnaby Joyce has denied the allegation but it’s being investigated. Subject to the outcome of that allegation, the appropriate steps will be taken.”

Treasurer Scott Morrison also refused to back Mr Joyce.

When asked if he would prefer if Joyce didn’t return from leave until the allegation has been resolved, Mr Morrison said: “The only Joyce I’m talking about today is Alan Joyce ... it’s a matter for the National Party.”

National Party Federal President Larry Anthony confirmed a sexual harassment complaint had been made against Mr Joyce by a West Australian woman.

Acting PM Mathias Cormann today refused to throw his support behind embattled Barnaby Joyce.

“The Federal Party can confirm a formal complaint has been received,” Mr Anthony said.

“All complaints are taken seriously and treated with strict confidentiality and given due process.”

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the National Party leadership this week directly raised the allegations with Mr Joyce, who has confirmed he has been made “indirectly aware” of what he labelled a “spurious and defamatory” complaint.

West Australian MPs have described the woman as “very credible”.

It’s also understood there is a letter detailing the complaint.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the complaint was behind the shock call earlier this week by the Nationals Party in WA to demand Mr Joyce stand down as National Party leader.

A spokesman for Mr Joyce said he was aware of the new allegation.

“Mr Joyce said he had been made indirectly aware and described the claims as spurious and defamatory,” the spokesman said.

“He said allegations of wrongdoing should be immediately referred to police so that the veracity of any claim could be properly tested.”

Leader of The Nationals WA Mia Davies “will not be making any comment at this time”.

Three National Party MPs in WA and a senior National WA source told The Daily Telegraph the allegation was behind leader Mia Davies’ surprise press conference on Tuesday, where she revealed she had contacted Mr Joyce to “inform him he no longer has the support of the Parliamentary National Party of Western Australia as the Leader of the Federal National Party”.

Ms Davies has not made the complaint.

READ MORE: Joyce Comes Out Swinging In GQ Interview

The complaint is understood to have been made since The Daily Telegraph published details of Mr Joyce’s personal scandal in the past fortnight.

In response to questions about the complaint from The Daily Telegraph, a spokesman for Ms Davies said: “Mia will not be making any comment at this time.”

PM Malcolm Turnbull and Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce in Question Time in the House of Representatives Chamber at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

Earlier this week, the WA Nationals leader said: “Mr Joyce’s actions have caused pain for his family but it is the ongoing damage Mr Joyce is causing The Nationals organisation that is of greatest concern to my colleagues and I.

“My Parliamentary colleagues and I have urged Mr Joyce to consider his position as Leader in the best interests of the Federal Party and State branches.

“It is the view of the Parliamentary National Party of Western Australia that Mr Joyce’s position as Federal Leader is no longer tenable.

“The Nationals exist to serve regional Australians and no individual is bigger than the party.”

Joyce has been in the national spotlight ever since it emerged he has affair with his former staffer Vikki Campion, who is now pregnant with his child. Picture: John Grainger

Earlier this month, The Daily Telegraph revealed a woman claimed Mr Joyce drunkenly pinched her on the bottom after the Rural Women’s Agricultural Awards ceremony in Canberra in 2011.

Mr Joyce, then an Opposition MP, denied the claim, saying through a spokesman that the incident never happened.

The allegation was raised by a political rival with Malcolm Turnbull’s principal private secretary in December 2015, who said no action could be taken because no formal complaint had been made.

Originally published as New Joyce sexual harassment claim