Barnaby Joyce’s television interview with Vikki Campion unwise

A preview screengrab of Channel 7's Sunday Night interview with Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion. Picture: Channel 7

“Never miss a chance either to have sex or appear on television.” That was the advice Christopher Hitchens claimed to have received from Gore Vidal. There was a time, perhaps, when it was wise counsel (at least in relation to television) but now that we live in an age where we are constantly and instantly bombarded by televisual communications and sexual references, it is probably redundant.

Heaven knows, the latest reality TV trend seems to be all about being on television while having sex. And I fear our trash celebrity society might not yet have found its nadir.

Into this milieu Barnaby Joyce has thrust himself, his partner, his family and his career. Whatever else can be said about his decision, it is not wise. And while it is bound to be demeaning for Joyce, his partner Vikki Campion, and their loved ones, it also further degrades our national political debate.

The electorate, in my view, hungers for dignity, certainty and conviction. Instead it gets constant politicking, hyper-partisanship, gotcha journalism, rorting scandals and a $150,000 interview about a deputy prime minister’s affair with his media adviser.

There is a lot to be said for dignified silence. If you wonder what it looks like and how it reflects on people, just think about Joyce’s estranged wife and their four daughters. I hesitate even to mention them, as they have clearly and sensibly decided not to be part of this sideshow, but the point is merely to note their considered and disciplined good sense. We sense that all of Australia wishes them well and respects their privacy.

For Joyce the welfare of his family — or families — should be the prime concern, of course. His decision to take leave at least gives him another chance to regroup, even as Sunday night’s media frenzy awaits. But he also has career and party factors to ponder. And the way he has fed the insatiable beast of media interest with constant and often bizarre updates has become a terrible distraction for the government.

Politics produces outstanding and outlandish personalities, characters and egos. But none of them amount to much without major party support; so they owe a duty to their parties and their colleagues. Too often, they trash the very vehicles that gave them their well-rewarded careers. We are seeing Joyce do this to the Coalition.

A decade of destructive and superficial politics has left us with a dysfunctional parliament and a jaded electorate. We want better than this but often encourage worse — as voter cynicism deepens, politicians become more desperate.

Barnaby, as recently as a year ago, looked like one of the straight-talking, conviction-based politicians that might help turn the tide. Now he is drowning in it; adding to the ugly spectacle.

I’ve got a good excuse not to watch on Sunday night — I’ll be hosting my own show on SkyNews. So, yes, I’ll be on television but we will try not to talk too much about sex.