New sex harassment claims against Barnaby Joyce

The Nationals confirm the party’s executive is assessing a sexual harassment complaint against Barnaby Joyce.

Barnaby Joyce in Armidale this week. Picture: John Grainger

Barnaby Joyce has come under renewed pressure after Nationals federal president Larry ­Anthony yesterday confirmed the party’s executive was assessing a sexual harassment complaint lodged against him.

UPDATE: Joyce sex claim ‘needs probe’

Mr Anthony said the complaint, made by a West Australian woman, was being “taken seriously” and treated with “strict confidentiality”.

Mr Joyce, who was publicly urged by parliamentary colleague Andrew Broad yesterday to step down as leader, rejected the accusations, describing the complaint as “spurious and ­defamatory”.

Some Nationals MPs in WA are aware of the woman’s identity and the nature of the alle­gations, but declined to com­ment last night, saying they wanted to protect the woman’s privacy.

It is understood that she ­approached WA Nationals leader Mia Davies and MP Terry Redman in recent days.

Deputy federal leader Bridget McKenzie was also made aware of the allegations.

The Australian understands the allegation was one of the key reasons behind Ms Davies’s ­announcement on Tuesday that the WA Nationals had withdrawn support for Mr Joyce.

It was also why Ms Davies ­refused to answer questions at a media conference.

The woman is not a Nationals MP or staffer.

Ahead of a Nationals partyroom meeting on Monday, there were renewed calls for the Deputy Prime Minister to step aside as colleagues grow frustrated with his handling of the love-child scandal.

NSW Nationals MP David Gillespie yesterday declared he would put himself forward as a leadership candidate if the position became vacant.

Nationals MPs said they felt “blindsided” by Mr Joyce’s ­attempts this week to rehabilitate his image through a favourable press interview with Fairfax Media, conducted with his former staffer and mother of his unborn child Vikki Campion.

“He’s telling us not to talk and it’ll all blow over, and then he goes and does that,” a Nationals MP said.

The Australian understands that Queensland Nationals are emerging as critical to Mr Joyce’s survival. Senior figures inside the Liberal National Party are privately pushing for Mr Joyce to quit, with MPs in the state split “down the middle”.

The agriculture and infrastructure estimates hearings next week are expected to probe the movements of Ms Campion between ministerial offices, and the departure of Mr Joyce’s former chief of staff, Diana Hallam.

Mr Broad, a Victorian Nat­ionals MP, urged Mr Joyce to move to the backbench, saying his mind was no longer on the job and he had shown he was unable to step up as acting prime minister. “It is time he takes a step back, regains some credibility and works through some issues he needs to work through,” Mr Broad told ABC radio.

“He’s meant to be taking a break and he’s clearly playing to the media. This is an issue we should have let quietly die and let’s get on with the core job but he’s not prepared to do that.”

Mr Broad did not commit to moving a spill motion but said he would raise the issue in the partyroom on Monday. He said Mr Joyce had told him on the phone he would not stand down.

Dr Gillespie, the Assistant Minister for Children and Families, told The Australian: “I support Barnaby Joyce as the leader but if he was to choose to stand down and have some time out and sort through his considerable issues, I would, as in other leaders ballots, put my hand up again.’’

Mr Joyce’s Fairfax interview was viewed unfavourably by colleagues. Senior party sources said some MPs had “flipped against him” as a result. “Barnaby’s about one ahead. His future is likely to be determined by what comes out in estimates next week,” one Nationals MP said.

A frustrated Liberal cabinet minister said: “Keeping quiet for a couple of days would be a good start, and then talking about things like water, roads and rail — issues of real importance to country communities.”

Acting Prime Minister Mathias Cormann yesterday described the publicity surrounding Mr Joyce’s affair as “a distraction for some time now”.

The West Australian complaint, which The Australian understands was referred to the Nationals federal executive this week, was being monitored by ­colleagues ahead of parliament ­resuming next week. Mr Anthony confirmed a complaint had been made against Mr Joyce.

The Daily Telegraph in Sydney yesterday reported Mr Joyce had been made “indirectly aware” of the complaint, which he had ­rejected.

“He (Mr Joyce) said allegations of wrongdoing should be immediately referred to police so that the veracity of any claim could be properly tested,” a spokeswoman said.

Nationals MPs have previously warned that Mr Joyce would be forced out of the leadership if he was linked to another scandal.

Nationals whip Michelle Laundy said any spill motion would have to wait until later in the week, as senators would be absent from Monday’s partyroom meeting for estimates committee hearings.

Additional reporting: Sid Maher