Australian politician who opposed gay marriage because of ‘traditional values’ has impregnated his mistress
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Barnaby Joyce (Photo by Matt King – Pool/Getty Images)
Australia’s former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, who opposed equal marriage because “every child has a right to know her or his mother and father” has impregnated his mistress behind his wife’s back.
Barnaby Joyce, the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and leader of the National Party, was a strong opponent of equal marriage during the country’s plebiscite on the issue.
During the campaign he claimed marriage exists is “a process that’s inherently there for the support of, or the prospect of, children”.
He added: “I think that every child has a right, absolute right to know her or his mother and father and also … should be given the greatest opportunity to know their biological mother and father.”
But Mr Joyce, who also claimed allowing gay people legal equality could harm Australia’s cattle trade, is under fire this week over his own personal life.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)
The politician is now expecting a baby with his former staff member, after leaving his wife of 24 years.
Joyce left his wife, Natalie, after she discovered he had been having an affair with his former media adviser.
Natalie Joyce released a statement about her husband’s actions.
She said: “I am deeply saddened by the news that my husband is now having a child with a former staff member. I understand that this has been going on for many months and started when she was a paid employee.
“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.
“Our family life has had to be shared during Barnaby’s political career and it was with trust that we let campaign and office staff into our homes and into our lives. Naturally we also feel hurt by the actions of Barnaby and the staff member involved.
“The situation for myself and the girls will be made worse by the fact that this will all be played out in public so at this time, I would ask that the girls and I are given some privacy and time to come to terms with the consequences and take steps to plan our future.”
Barnaby Joyce (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)
Barnaby Joyce previously confirmed his marriage had broken down after 24 years.
Speaking in 2015 while serving as Minister for Agriculture, Joyce suggested that letting gay couples get married would harm the cattle trade.
In an interview with ABC, he insisted: “Where we live economically is south-east Asia, that’s where our cattle go.
“When we go there, there are judgments whether you like it or not that are made about us.
“They see us as decadent.”
“I think that in some instances they would [see same-sex marriage as decadent].”
Mr Joyce insisted that he would be right because “every child has a right, absolute right to know her or his mother and father”.
He insisted: “I don’t think if you go and pass a piece of legislation and say a diamond is a square makes diamonds squares — they’re two different things,” he said.
“It’s not making a value judgement about either.”
Joyce has also previously justified his opposition to equal marriage by telling GQ: “On most streets of Australia, people do not give a s**t about it”.
