Barnaby Joyce is expecting a second baby son with partner and former staffer Vikki Campion.
The former Nationals leader, 51, broke the news to both the Joyce and Campion families, including his estranged wife Natalie and their four daughters.
Following weeks of speculation among party insiders Mr Joyce finally confirmed the news, The Sunday Mail reported.
The couple’s second pregnancy has left his daughters fuming, as it has reopened old wounds for the family he left behind.
Barnaby Joyce shares Sebastian (pictured) with Vikki Campion following a controversial affair with the former staffer and the breakdown of his 24-year marriage
Odette Joyce, Bridgette Joyce, Natalie Joyce, Caroline Joyce and Jules Joyce (pictured) were reportedly ‘disgusted’ by a tell all interview involving Barnaby Joyce and his new partner Vikki Campion
A close friend said the new baby will be named Thomas after Mr Joyce’s grandfather.
‘The girls are rightly furious about their father’s latest baby news,’ the friend said.
The baby is believed to be a boy due in June, when the couple’s first son Sebastian will be 14 months old.
The friend also said Ms Joyce had battled on through the love child scandal and had never been stronger.
‘She’s back working full time and spends every waking hour being the best mum she can for the girls. It has been a humiliating journey for the five of them but she’s incredibly resilient,’ the friend said.
Mr Joyce, who currently sits on the backbench, is rumoured to be preparing for a political comeback while Nationals leader Michael McCormack struggles.
Mr McCormack has reportedly lost support from colleagues following the ‘sugar baby’ scandal and revelations he knew about the incident before the story broke.
But it’s believed Ms Campion may push to follow him on the campaign trail in a bid to work her way back to her old role as political adviser.
Following weeks of speculation among party insiders, Barnaby Joyce (pictured) finally confirmed the news
The former Nationals leader, 51, broke the news to both the Joyce and Campion families, including estranged wife Natalie (pictured left) and their four daughters (right to left: Odette, 16, Bridgette, 21, Julia, 20 and Caroline, 19)
‘There is a real concern he may take Vikki on the campaign trail, which could really backfire and be the last nail in his political career,’ the friend said.
Mr Joyce’s political career took a hit when news of his relationship with Ms Campion broke, leading him to resign from his role as Deputy Prime Minister in February 2018.
Sebastian was born on April 16 after the couple’s relationship went public in February, but the pair have since tried to keep their son out of the public eye.
Mr Joyce appears to have taken to his renewed role as a father figure, sharing a picture on Twitter of him washing his son on Christmas Eve.
‘Bathing Seb and staring out window. Happy Birthday Jesus!’ Mr Joyce wrote.
Mr Joyce (left), who currently sits on the backbench, is rumoured to be preparing for a political comeback amid the demise of Nationals leader Michael McCormack
His political career took a hit when the love child scandal broke, leading to Mr Joyce resigning from his role as Deputy Prime Minister in February 2018 (pictured Mr Joyce and Ms Campion
Mr Joyce and Ms Campion told their side of the love affair in June in a tell-all interview with Seven Night where they earned $150,000 – which went into a trust fund for their new baby son.
Ms Campion revealed she considered terminating the pregnancy but ultimately decided to keep the child, while Mr Joyce is opposed to abortion.
‘Boy, man you caused me some problems,’ Mr Joyce said of his baby son Sebastian during the interview.
‘But it’s all worth it. I just want him to be that little boy in the country.’
The couple revealed their relationship became romantic in late 2016 after becoming close while working together.
In April, Mr Joyce has said there were ‘peculiar circumstances’ surrounding the birth of his son, but his main focus is now being the ‘best dad’ he can be.
Following the affair, ex-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull introduced a ban on MPs having romantic or sexual relationships with their staffers.
Ms Campion said she considered getting an abortion but ultimately decided to keep the child
Mr Joyce admitted to ‘living a lie’ by continuing his public relationship with his wife while secretly being involved with Ms Campion.
The pair christened Sebastian in September, with images showing the pair lovingly holding their son out the front of Saints Mary & Joseph Catholic Cathedral in the northern NSW town of Armidale.
But Mr Joyce’s daughters weren’t in attendance for their stepbrother’s big day.
Mr Joyce and his daughters have had a rocky relationship since the ex-National Party leader’s highly-publicised affair tore his family apart.
The Joyce girls, Bridgette, 21, Julia, 20, Caroline, 18, and Odette, 15, were reportedly ‘disgusted’ by the $150,000 tell-all television interview with in June.
The interview reportedly created a further rift within the family that was torn apart over the affair.
In an interview with Women’s Weekly in June, Ms Joyce said she was ‘proud she stood up’ to Ms Campion at his Tamworth electorate office last March.
‘I was very measured. I didn’t raise my voice. She and Barney were smoking outside. He bolted when he saw me,’ Ms Joyce said.
‘I turned to her and said, ”My husband is out of bounds, off-limits, he’s a married man with four children”, and then I called her a home-wrecking wh***. It was not one of my finer moments but, looking back, I’m proud I stood up to her.’