Barnaby Joyce says baby’s paternity is a ‘grey area’

Concern is growing among MPs for Barnaby Joyce’s welfare as he issues a fresh statement explaining bizarre paternity comments.

Barnaby Joyce and pregnant partner Vikki Campion at Canberra airport on Friday. Picture: Kym Smith

Barnaby Joyce is standing by bizarre comments that cast doubt over whether he is the father of his partner’s unborn son, triggering confusion among his fellow MPs who are increasingly concerned about his welfare.

The former Deputy Prime Minister used one of several Fairfax interviews over the last week to ague the issue of paternity was a “grey area” and lashed out at the ongoing media scrutiny of his private life since his resignation as Nationals Leader.

Mr Joyce moved to the backbench amid a growing political crisis over his affair with his former staffer, Vikki Campion, which derailed the government’s agenda, fractured the Coalition and led to the implementation of a contentious “sex ban” between ministers and their staff.

He issued a statement this afternoon explaining why he had decided to cast doubt over the identity of the father of Ms Campion’s unborn baby.

He said he had “no choice” but to tell the story.

The couple have been living together in Armidale. Picture: Kym Smith

“This issue has continued to be pursued by media despite my resignation, with paparazzi waiting for us at our gate at the airport on Friday and an upcoming appearance by a Daily Telegraph journalist on ABC’s Q&A on Monday night,” he said.

“Media had also made requests around the issue which was printed today. Therefore we felt we had no choice but to tell the story.

“Despite a flood of other allegations by media and political types being used as a proxy to attack us for being together, none of those allegations has been proven true.”

While Mr Joyce used his interview with Fairfax to argue the media had not asked if he was the father, this is untrue with several media outlets having put this question to him including The Daily Telegraph and the ABC.

In the interview, Mr Joyce said that he would raise the child as his own, but said the exact identity of the father was a “grey area.”

“Even if it wasn’t (my own), I wouldn’t care,” he said. “I’d still go through with this. I ‘d still love him,” he said.

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