- Barnaby Joyce took aim at the prime minister over comments made on Thursday
- He said Mr Turnbull’s comments were ‘inept’ and ‘unnecessary’ and caused harm
- Mr Joyce has resisted pressure to step down over his affair with a former staffer
Barnaby Joyce has returned fire at Malcolm Turnbull in a feisty press conference on Friday morning.
The deputy prime minister has refused to bow to mounting pressure to step down over his affair with pregnant former staffer Vikki Campion.
‘In regards to comments by the Prime Minister yesterday at his press conference, I have to say that in many instances they caused further harm,’ Mr Joyce said.
‘I believe they were in many instances inept. And most definitely in many instances unnecessary.
Barnaby Joyce (pictured) has resigned, stepping down as deputy prime minister and leader of the Nationals
Mr Joyce (pictured, right) has refused to bow to mounting pressure to step down over his affair with pregnant former staffer Vikki Campion (pictured, left)
‘In regards to comments by the Prime Minister (pictured) yesterday at his press conference, I have to say that in many instances they caused further harm,’ Mr Joyce said
‘The reason I say that, it was public knowledge what was being repeated. It was public knowledge that it would run on front pages of papers and all it does is reinvest in the hurt that is held by other people.
‘I have to say that because I listened to it and I thought that was completely unnecessary. All that is going to do is basically once more pull the scab off for everybody to have a look at.’
On Thursday it was announced Mr Joyce would not take over as Acting Prime Minister during Malcolm Turnbull’s trip to the US next week.
Mr Turnbull on Thursday announced the ministerial code of conduct had been rewritten.
The code now forbids ministers engaging in sexual relations with their staff, regardless of whether they were married or single.
More to come