Vikki Campion withdraws Press Council complaint

Vikki Campion says “I just want to focus on motherhood” as she abandons Press Council complaint over Joyce affair expose.

Vikki Campion and Barnaby Joyce with son Sebastian, during their first TV interview. Picture: Channel 7

Vikki Campion has withdrawn her Press Council complaint about the Daily Telegraph splash that exposed her affair with then deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce.

Ms Campion, who fronted up to a paid television interview on Sunday along with Mr Joyce and their baby Sebastian, had complained that the Telegraph’s front-page photograph of her crossing a road while pregnant breached her privacy.

The accompanying story by Sharri Markson set off a dramatic chain of events which resulted in Mr Joyce tendering his resignation.

In the weeks that followed, intense scrutiny focused on his rent-free living arrangements, an unrelated sexual harassment allegation — which he is fighting — and Ms Campion’s employment.

Ms Campion, who was previously Mr Joyce’s media adviser, moved into a new, well-paid role in Resources Minister Matt Canavan’s office after the affair began.

She has said that she decided to drop the Press Council complaint in order to focus on raising baby Sebastian.

“I filed a Breach of Privacy complaint when heavily pregnant in an attempt to prevent my baby being hounded by media after his birth, however he was papped at three weeks of age and drones used over our house,” Ms Campion told 9Finance.

“To stop being chased, we agreed to an interview. I have since approached the Press Council to close the complaint as I just want to focus on motherhood.”

Ms Campion and Mr Joyce have promised to put the $150,000 they were paid for the hour-long interview on Seven’s Sunday Night program into a trust for their son.

Critics dubbed the interview a “train wreck” after Mr Joyce commented that the baby had “caused some problems” and declined to answer any tough questions.