Natalie Joyce has revealed she feels ‘deceived’ by the Deputy Prime Minister, and said she sacrificed her own career to support him.
Barnaby Joyce’s wife of 24 years said the situation has been devastating for her and their four daughters.
The Deputy Prime Minister is expecting a baby with a former staffer, just two months after he formally announced he was separated from his wife of 24-years.
Mr Joyce, 50, is expecting a child with his former media advisor Vikki Campion, 33, (together) who he has reportedly fallen ‘madly in love’ with
Natalie Joyce has revealed she feels ‘deceived’ by the Deputy Prime Minister, and said she sacrificed her own career to support him (pictured are Mr Joyce and Ms Campion)
‘The situation is devastating, 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,’ she said, The Daily Telegraph reported.
‘Our family has had to be shared during Barnaby’s political career and it was with trust that we let campaign and office staff into our home and into our lives.
‘Naturally we feel deceived and hurt by the actions of Barnaby and the staff member involved.’
Ms Campion (pictured) worked as Mr Joyce’s media advisor before she moved into a more senior role with Resources Minister Matt Canavan in April last year
Barnaby Joyce’s wife of 24 years said the situation has been devastating for her and their four daughters (pictured are Mr Joyce and Ms Campion)
Pictures have emerged of Mr Joyce looking relaxed with his now reportedly pregnant former staffer Vikki Campion in a Sydney bar (pictured)
In several of the photographs taken last year Ms Campion looks comfortable with Mr Joyce, who revealed in December he had split from his wife
‘I am deeply saddened by the news that my husband has been having an affair and is now having a child with a former staff member,’ she told The Australian.
‘I understand that this affair has been going on for many months and started when she was a paid employee.’
Pictures have emerged of Mr Joyce looking relaxed with his now reportedly pregnant former staffer Vikki Campion in a Sydney bar.
In several of the photographs taken last year Ms Campion looks comfortable with Mr Joyce, who revealed in December he had split from his wife.
Witnesses said the pair appeared to be relaxed with each other inside the Different Drummer bar at Glebe in Sydney’s inner-west.
Mr Joyce, 50, is in a relationship with his former media advisor Vikki Campion, 33, and has fallen ‘madly in love’, according to The Daily Telegraph.
While Mr Joyce has previously announced his separation from wife Natalie, he is yet to make a public statement about the rumoured pregnancy.
‘I am deeply saddened by the news that my husband has been having an affair and is now having a child with a former staff member,’ Mrs Joyce said (pictured are Mr Joyce and Ms Campion)
‘I understand that this affair has been going on for many months and started when she was a paid employee,’ said Natalie Joyce (pictured are Mr Joyce and Ms Campion)
Mr Joyce and Natalie have four daughters, aged in their late teens and early 20s, from their 24-year marriage.
The new couple have moved in together ahead of the birth of their child in April, the publication reported.
A friend of the Deputy Prime Minister said the pregnancy was shrouded in secrecy because he was concerned about the well-being of his daughters.
‘He has been struggling with the family breakup, it’s put an enormous pressure on him,’ a source told the publication.
‘He’s had some pretty dark times.’
Mr Joyce (pictured on Tuesday) has previously announced his separation from wife Natalie, but is yet to make a public statement about the rumoured pregnancy
Ms Campion worked as Mr Joyce’s media advisor before she moved into a more senior role with Resources Minister Matt Canavan in April last year.
She later worked for Nationals chief parliamentary Whip Damian Drum but was left without a job when Mr Drum changed roles and became Assistant Minister to Deputy Prime Minister Joyce.
Mr Joyce, who was born in Tamworth, acknowledged he was separated and said he was ‘not a saint’ in a parliamentary admission last year.
‘I do support the current definition of marriage as it stands,’ he said in the lead up to the same-sex marriage vote on December 7.
Mr Joyce, the Minister for Agriculture, has not been seen publicly with his wife Natalie since the Canberra Press Gallery Mid-Winter Ball in June last year
Mr Joyce (pictured, centre) and Natalie (pictured, left) have four daughters, aged in their late teens and early 20s, from their 24-year marriage
‘It is a special relationship between a man and a woman, predominantly for the purpose of bringing children into the world.
‘I don’t come to this debate pretending to be any form of saint, but I do believe in the current definition of marriage, which has stood the test of time.
‘I acknowledge that I’m currently separated, so that’s on the record.’
Mr Joyce, a Catholic and outspoken economic and social conservative, said he would ‘never vote against the view of the Australian people’ before he abstained from the final vote on December 7.
Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the National Party Barnaby Joyce, at coffee with his wife Natalie and dog Missty
Barnaby Joyce celebrates at The Nationals Party at West Tamworth Leagues Club in Tamworth on Saturday, December 2, 2017
Mr Joyce’s wife Natalie has not been seen publicly with the Deputy Prime Minister since the Canberra Press Gallery Mid-Winter Ball in June last year.
The Leader of The Nationals was forced to resign from his position as Deputy Prime Minister in August last year, amid a dual citizenship saga which embroiled Parliament.
The government lost its majority in the lower house after the High Court ruled he was ineligible to sit due to his dual New Zealand citizenship.
Mr Joyce, who has since renounced his New Zealand citizenship, comfortably won the New England by-election on December 2, and resumed his cabinet posts the same day.
Barnaby Joyce (pictured) the speaks to the media after winning the New England by-election