It is day nine of Barnabygate and questions around the Deputy Prime Minister’s private life are continuing, as are rumours that the long time politician will stand down.
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However, the voices supporting Mr Joyce have gotten louder in the last 24 hours.
The question now is has Barnaby Joyce survived this political scandal? (Let us know by answering the poll below).
In case you have been avoiding all media in the last 10 days: last Tuesday the Daily Telegraph published photos of a heavily pregnant woman in Canberra who was later confirmed as Barnaby Joyce’s ex-staffer and current lover, Vikki Campion. Ms Campion is pregnant with their child. Believed to be due mid-April.
READ MORE: Barnaby Joyce’s ex-wife speaks out
What’s new?
After avoiding the press for days, deputy nationals leader Bridget McKenzie made a statement on Wednesday saying she backs him as a leader. In a televised interview, Senator McKenzie said Mr Joyce “has the full support of the party”. She said speculation about other Nationals MPs moving to oust the leader was news to her.
It seems Labor are expected to step up the pressure on the Deputy Prime Minister today and tomorrow, encouraging him to resign. He was under pressure from leader of the Labor Party Bill Shorten and deputy leader Mark Dreyfus during Question time yesterday.
What’s been happening?
People in Tamworth are divided over their federal member’s next movements. Despite Mr Joyce’s landslide win mere months ago, the people of Tamworth aren’t happy with his behaviour. For the most part, those who have always loved Barnaby Joyce still love Barnaby Joyce. A good chunk of his supporters say they'd heard the rumours before the byelection, and many are now so angered by the media's incursion into his private life they refuse to talk about the matter at all - not even to affirm their loyalty.
Three former deputy prime ministers have told the Nationals to resolve the Barnaby Joyce saga as it is threatening the Turnbull government. While Warren Truss, Mark Vaile and John Anderson stopped short of telling Mr Joyce to step down, all agreed the situation needed to go away.
Tell us what you think in the poll below