NEW England MP Barnaby Joyce has become a father for the fifth time with the birth of his son, Sebastian.
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Mr Joyce and his partner, Vikki Campion, announced the birth of their baby boy on Friday.
At 3.8kg, or 8lbs 7oz in the old scale, Sebastian arrived on April 16 – one day before Mr Joyce celebrated his 51st birthday.
Mr Joyce’s office confirmed Ms Campion gave birth to baby Sebastian at Armidale hospital on Monday, and now the couple have left hospital and gone home. It’s believed the pair are still living in the Armidale area.
He is the fifth child and first son for the former deputy prime minister, and the first child for Ms Campion.
We are very happy and just taking it quietly.
- New England MP Barnaby Joyce
"We are very happy and just taking it quietly," Mr Joyce told Fairfax Media on Friday.
He said the arrival of the baby comprehensively removed any doubts over whether he was the baby's father.
Mr Joyce said last month there was a "grey area" over the paternity.
Mr Joyce has four daughters, Julia, Bridgette, Caroline and Odette Joyce, with his former wife, Natalie.
The birth of his boy hasn’t slowed the former deputy prime minister, who has had various engagements throughout the New England electorate this week.
On Wednesday, Mr Joyce was in the Liverpool Plains area to announce a $10 million contribution from the federal government for the Quipolly Water Project.
The same day he also slammed calls for the legalisation of marijuana for recreational use, adding he didn’t think the world “is going to be a better place when we can all go home at night and pull a few cones”.
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Mr Joyce quit as deputy prime minister and Nationals leader in February after 16 days of scandal over his affair with Ms Campion, his former media adviser.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull later introduced a ban on ministers having sexual relations with their staff.
In an interview in February with Fairfax Media, Mr Joyce said he and Ms Campion had been hounded out of their Armidale apartment where they had been living rent-free. The apartment was owned by Mr Joyce’s friend, and local businessman, Greg Maguire.
– with Australian Associated Press
EARLIER
Barnaby Joyce and partner Vikki Campion have welcomed a new baby boy.
At eight pounds, seven ounces, baby Sebastian was born on Monday.
Armidale Hospital general manager Wendy Mulligan said she could not “confirm or deny” anything, the same statement given to The Express by Mr Joyce’s office.
Mr Joyce told Fairfax Media, “We are very happy and just taking it quietly”.
A Fairfax Media poll revealed 34 per cent of readers preferred the name “Barnaby Junior”, with Jonathon Thurston the runner up on 20 per cent.