Barnaby Joyce says he may not be biological father of Vikki Campion’s baby

BARNABY Joyce has been slammed for revealing the paternity of his partner’s unborn child, but says he had “no choice”.

BARNABY Joyce is standing by bizarre comments suggesting he may not be the father of the baby boy he is expecting with his new partner, saying he had “no choice” but to bring it up.

The Nationals MP and former deputy prime minister said he would raise the baby boy his former media adviser Vikki Campion is carrying, but is not sure he is the biological father as it is a “grey area”, reports Fairfax.

Mr Joyce’s comments sparked criticism on social media, including from his New England rival Tony Windsor, who tweeted: “If anyone had doubts about Joyce’s character I think they now have a clear picture of this grub, will sacrifice others on his blundering self centred path. How many more women does he have to damage?”

Mr Joyce appeared to try and explain his reasoning for raising doubt over the child’s paternity in a statement released Sunday afternoon.

“This issue has continued to be pursued by media despite my resignation ... media had also made requests around the issue which was printed today. Therefore we felt we had no choice but to tell the story,” Mr Joyce said in the statement.

“Despite a flood of other allegations by media and political types being used as a proxy for being together, noneo f those allegations has been proven true.”

Earlier, Mr Joyce claimed he was not asked whether the child was his before Ms Campion’s pregnancy was revealed to the Australian public on the front cover of The Daily Telegraph, eventually resulting in his resignation from Cabinet.

However, the original author of the article Sharri Markson tweeted an email that showed the paper did ask him this before publishing the story.

Here's the email where, contrary to his quotes in Fairfax, I directly ask Barnaby Joyce, before publication, if the baby is his and ask him to confirm he had already told his wife and daughters. We published the story when we were satisfied he was treating the unborn as his own. pic.twitter.com/sKNBjCaqKP

— Sharri Markson (@SharriMarkson) March 3, 2018

The 50-year-old said he was physically apart from Ms Campion, 33, for most of the period when the baby would have been conceived. It is believed Ms Campion became pregnant around July or August of last year, a time when she was transferred from Resource Minister Matt Canavan’s office into a newly created social media adviser role for Nationals MP Damian Dunn. She did however return to Mr Joyce’s office for a number of weeks around the time of this transition.

Vikki Campion. Picture: John Grainger

Mr Joyce’s comments on the child’s paternity and his relationship with Ms Campion, have agitated a lot of Twitter users, with some questioning why he initially admitted to fathering the child, what he was thinking when he made these comments and suggesting he may be throwing Ms Campion under the bus.

If anyone had doubts about Joyce's character I think they now have a clear picture of this grub , will sacrifice others on his blundering self centred path . How many more women does he have to damage ?

— Tony Windsor (@TonyHWindsor) March 3, 2018

@Barnaby_Joyce complains about media intrusion into his private life and then gives an interview on the unborn child's paternity. Is this bloke serious...? https://t.co/PxVIK5vRXd

— Carleen Frost (@CarleenFrost) March 3, 2018

What the hell is he THINKING????
Completely gobsmacking that he would air this stuff in public.
If he has any supporters left, let them defend this.#auspol https://t.co/IPlfwWWizt

— Peter FitzSimons (@Peter_Fitz) March 3, 2018

Barnaby Joyce just threw his pregnant lover under the bus in order to criticise the media. What a grade a arsehole.

— Kernpuff (@Kernpuff) March 3, 2018

For someone who wants privacy, this is a pretty weird way to go about it. And one wonders if he ran this story past the other party involved. Super weird.

— Charlie Pickering (@charliepick) March 3, 2018

I don't know how "madly in love" with Joyce Vicki Campion is going to be after this epic slut shaming. Holy hell. Shut up Barnaby!

— Dr Phillipa Jenkins (@phillipacarr) March 3, 2018

Mr Joyce confirmed in December last year that he had separated from his wife after winning a by-election in his seat of New England, brought on when he realised he was a dual citizen.

His relationship with Ms Campion, a former staffer in his office was revealed in February and then sparked scrutiny of his travel expenses and also claims of past harassment.

After a tumultuous month for the beleaguered politician, Mr Joyce announced his resignation in a dramatic press conference in Armidale, NSW.

The controversy resulted in a sex ban on ministers sleeping with staff and a feud with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The affair has been publicly slammed by Mr Turnbull who accused Mr Joyce of making “a shocking error of judgment”. Mr Joyce hit back by calling the Liberal leader “inept”.

Pressure had been mounting on Mr Joyce ever since the affair with Ms Campion was revealed. Ms Campion, a former journalist, began working as a media adviser on Mr Joyce’s election campaign in May 2016.

In August of that year she officially joined his staff and split up with her fiance John Bergin, three months before their wedding. Ms Campion was moved out of the Joyce office in December of 2016 and there’s been speculation on the legitimacy of the roles she was appointed to in two other offices.

The couple was seen walking through Canberra airport on Friday, the first time they’ve been pictured together since news broke they were expecting a baby.

Barnaby Joyce and his pregnant partner Vikki Campion pictured at Canberra airport. Picture: Kym Smith

Mr Joyce told media he has no intention of getting a paternity test.

“It’s mine on the record, there it is,” the now back bencher for New England assured.

“I can say even if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t care. I’d still go through this. I still love him.”

Mr Joyce has four daughters with his wife Natalie. Ms Campion’s baby will be his first son.

Ms Campion and Mr Joyce are now living together in Armidale and their baby is due in April this year.