Security upgrade for Joyce’s Armidale love nest

Barnaby Joyce’s rent-free Armidale love nest has had a security upgrade.

The Armidale townhouse provided rent-free to Barnaby Joyce and his pregnant partner by an influential businessman has a “pretty thorough security upgrade” fitted by the new Department of Home Affairs.

The upgrade, examples of which cost up to $3 million, is attached to Mr Joyce’s role as Deputy Prime Minister but includes additions to the property that are permanent.

The Weekend Australian revealed the townhouse belongs to Greg Maguire, a long-time player in New England politics.

The Department of Home Affairs declined to answer questions about whether it would be reimbursed for the upgrade. “For privacy and security reasons, the department does not comment on security arrangements,” a spokesman said.

Mr Maguire had the home for sale last year, with an ad by Green Jelly Property calling the property a “premium home (that) truly gives a sense of city living’’. The townhouse has a walk-in-wardrobe, full-sized ensuite and a second large living area upstairs.

The home had a list price of $649,000 and rented for about $550 a week, according to CoreLogic RP Data.

The rent puts the value of the personal gift to Mr Joyce at $14,000, above the threshold for political donation declarations under federal law. However, because this was a gift from a long-time friend, Mr Joyce was under no obligation to declare it.

He updated his pecuniary interests register on January 3 to disclose a “post-election residual of six-month tenancy on Armidale premises”.