Until Wednesday morning former journalist Vikki Campion had not made headlines since she was The Daily Telegraph’s urban affairs reporter.
The 33-year-old had worked quietly behind the scenes for several National Party politicians before taking on her role as a media adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.
Ms Campion, who also once worked for Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore, was employed in Mr Joyce’s office from May 2016 until May last year, then moved to the office of Resources Minister Matt Canavan.
Former journalist Vikki Campion has been keeping a low profile since the middle of last year
Former Telegraph reporter Vikki Campion (right) on the road with Samantha Armytage
Vikki Campion pictured with Barnaby Joyce at the Different Drummer bar at Glebe last year
She had previously worked as a senior adviser to New South Wales Police Minister Troy Grant when the Dubbo MP was deputy premier and was an adviser to Racing Minister Paul Toole when the Bathurst MP had the local government portfolio.
Prior to becoming a political staffer Ms Campion worked for eight years as a journalist with The Daily Telegraph, where she was on the news desk for seven months until July 2014.
Months before it was reported Ms Campion was pregnant to Mr Joyce she began withdrawing from public view.
Ms Campion disappeared from social media and moved house; her address has been removed from the electoral roll.
When the political staffer began shutting down her social media last year she also asked friends to remove pictures of her, saying the request was to do with her ‘government job’.
Canberra insiders had been gossiping for months over her relationship with Mr Joyce and the later rumours that Ms Campion was pregnant to him.
Political staffer Vikki Campion is reportedly having Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce’s fifth child
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce worked with Vikki Campion (both pictured) for a year
On December 7 the Nationals leader used the parliamentary debate on same sex marriage to confirm he was no longer with Natalie, his wife of 24 years.
‘I don’t come to this debate pretending to be any saint or anything like that but I do believe in the current definition of marriage, which has stood the test of time,’ Mr Joyce said.
‘Half of them fail, I acknowledge that, I’m happy to acknowledge that I am currently separated so that is on the record.’
My Joyce’s office did not return calls, emails or texts with inquiries about Ms Campion after he announced his separation from his wife.
Ms Campion also proved elusive.
Pregnant political staffer and former reporter Vikki Campion has withdrawn from social media
Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce with wife Natalie and daughters after a victorious campaign
In mid December the Nationals’ federal secretariat told Daily Mail Australia Ms Campion was working for the party at Parliament House.
A Parliament House switchboard operator said there was not a Vikki Campion listed anywhere in the building.
A call to the office of Victorian Federal MP Damian Drum at the same time confirmed Ms Campion was working for him in Canberra.
However, a receptionist at Mr Drum’s office said Ms Campion was on leave and not expected back until 2018.
Mr Joyce’s office continues to decline to comment on Ms Campion but said she was no longer working for the Coalition government due to ministerial changes made during a reshuffle last year.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce announced in December he had separated from his wife