Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has found himself in hot water again over fresh allegations he drunkenly pinched a woman’s bottom at an awards ceremony in 2011.
In a statement outside of Parliament house this morning, Barnaby denied all claims.
“The story, it’s not a case that I didn’t recollect it, it did not happen,” he told reporters.
He continued saying the accusation was a case of political slander with no proof behind it, that’s been around for at least seven years though in the past he did not believe the accusation dignified a response.
According to The Daily Telegraph, a “respected” woman claims the embattled National Party leader was “very, very drunk” when he pinched her after she confronted him about his behaviour with another woman at an event following the Rural Women’s Agricultural Awards in Canberra in 2011.
“I went over to the bar and he was very, very drunk and nearly falling over,” the unnamed woman told the publication. “I said ‘Barnaby, I think you should go home. You’re very drunk’.”
She added: “He leant over and he pinched my bottom.”
A spokesman for Mr Joyce has denied the incident, however The Daily Telegraph and Fairfax Media both quote text messages sent to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s senior adviser Sally Cray in 2015 in which she was warned of Mr Joyce’s behaviour four years earlier.
The messages came from John Clements, a former chief adviser to Mr Joyce’s long-time political rival Tony Windsor.
In one text, Ms Cray described the alleged behaviour as “unacceptable” but said it was hard to take action without an official complaint.
Mr Clements then replied that “the rural women’s award pub incident has too many witnesses to go away… Joyce will cop media over it.”
The allegation follows revelations Mr Joyce has been in a relationship with a former staffer.
Mr Joyce is expecting a child with his former staffer Vikki Campion, having split with his wife of 24-years, Natalie in December last year.
Mrs Joyce recently shared her “devastation” at learning that her estranged husband is expecting a baby with a woman he used to work with.
Speaking to The Australian, Mrs Joyce said that she is deeply saddened by the news which has sent upset through her family.
“This situation is devastating on many fronts. For my girls who are affected by the family breakdown and for me as a wife of 24 years, who placed my own career on hold to support Barnaby through his political life,” she said.
Mr Joyce is pictured with his former wife of 24-years, Natalie.
Mrs Joyce hinted at betrayal, explaining that their family had let office and campaign staff into their home and lives.
“Naturally we also feel hurt by the actions of Barnaby and the staff member involved,” she said, before pleading for privacy during this time.
WATCH: Barnaby Joyce speaks about the revelations on ABC’s 7:30. Post continues…
Ms Campion, 33, worked as Mr Joyce’s media advisor before she moved into a more senior role with Resources Minister Matt Canavan in April last year.
The mother-to-be then joined the office of Nationals chief parliamentary whip Damian Drum, before losing her job when Mr Drum moved from his role to become the Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister.
She is yet to speak publicly about the news.
