- Labor MP’s have been told not to heckle Barnaby Joyce over news of his affair
- The day before the news broke publicly, many were yelling ‘daddy’ at him
- One female staffer said the order was part of boys protecting boys
- Mr Joyce, 50, is reportedly expecting a child with ex-adviser Vikki Campion, 33
Labor MP’s have been directed to go ‘dead quiet’ on Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, leaving some women feeling he is being protected.
Manager of Opposition Business Tony Burke reportedly silenced his MPs, who had been yelling ‘daddy’ to him across the floor of parliament just one day before the news broke, The Daily Telegraph reported.
They were asked not to heckle during Question Time, leaving some senior women in the party to interpret the direction as the ‘boys club’ looking to protect one of its own.
Labor MPs have been told not to heckle Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce about his affair and unborn child with his former media adviser
One female MP said: ‘it’s all about men in this place’, when discussing the gag order on Joyce.
On Wednesday it was reported the 50-year-old Deputy PM’s former media adviser, Vikki Campion, 33, is carrying his child.
The news was revealed just two months after he formally announced he was separated from his wife of 24 years, Natalie.
Joyce and Ms Campion worked in the same office for six months – to the apparent displeasure of other staff.
Joyce and Vikki Campion (pictured) are expecting their first child together in April this year
Manager of Opposition Business Tony Burke (pictured) reportedly ordered MPs to stay silent on Joyce’s personal matters, leading some senior Labor women to believe he was moving to protect the Deputy PM
His then-chief of staff, Diana Hallam, reportedly asked for Ms Campion to be moved out of the office, before Ms Hallam asked for the former journalist’s devices, including her phone.
Ms Campion was transferred to the office of Liberal MP Matt Canavan in December 2016, and just months later Ms Hallam moved to a departmental role in government, taking a large pay cut to do so.
Reports claim the new couple have moved in together ahead of the birth of their child in April, at which point Joyce will relax his ministerial duties.