Leigh Sales interviewed Barnaby Joyce last night for ABC’s 7:30.
This was the Deputy Prime Minister’s first interview since news broke he was expecting a baby with ex-staff member, Vikki Campion.
In typical Queen Sales fashion, the veteran journalist was straight to business but managed to keep her line of questioning in line with what she believed was of value to the wider public.
“Let’s just address the elephant in the room,” she said to Joyce before asking him to about his relationship with pregnant 33, year-old Campion, which made headlines around the nation yesterday.
Joyce was clear upfront where he stood.
“So it’s a private matter and I don’t think it helps me, I don’t think it helps my family, I don’t think it helps anybody in the future to start making this a public discussion. As much as I can I will keep private matters private,” he replied.
“Once we start going through this salami slicing of private life, where does it end?”
“I don’t think it’s right. I don’t think it would be right for any other politician,” he said.
Following the front page news and the intense reaction from the public, Joyce’s estranged wife Natalie Joyce issued a statement revealing she and his family were deeply hurt and devastated by the news of the Deputy Prime Minister’s affair.
When questioned if this was the right kind of behavior for a boss (Vikki was one of Joyce’s employees) , Joyce replied:
“I’m not going to go into all the iterations of a private relationship, and there’s nothing beyond the consensual.”
Sales then countered his request for privacy by asking if this behavior meant we should be questioning his “loyalty and trustworthiness”.
“I am not for one minute saying that that is an admirable trait. It’s obviously incredible painful for everyone involved,” he responded.
Leigh Sales interviewed Barnaby Joyce last night for ABC’s 7:30.
The Deputy Prime Minister was then asked to defend himself against allegations that he is a hypocrite for refusing to back same-sex marriage.
“Just because my relationship didn’t work it doesn’t mean I changed what I think.
“On that instance I failed, OK. I’ll be upfront I failed on that one but I am not going to say therefore just because I failed I’m going to completely change my views and definition.
“I don’t think anybody walks down the aisle with a view that they think that it’s going to come to an end or finish. You don’t. You make the commitment to try and see it through, now I acknowledge that.
Barnaby with his Daughter’s, Bridgette, 20, Julia, 19, Caroline, 17, and Odette, 15.
Following news that Barnaby Joyce and ex-staff member Vikki Campion are expecting a baby, people want to know more about the Deputy Prime Minister’s other family, including his four daughters.
As well as one baby on the way with ex-staff member Vikki Champion, Barnaby has four daughters.
Bridgette, 20, Julia, 19, Caroline, 17, and Odette, 15.
Barnaby Joyce announced he had separated from his wife Natalie Joyce in December, 2017.
Natalie and the Deputy Prime Minister were married in 1993 and together for 24 years.
The pair met while they were both in University.
