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Love conquers critics as Vikki Campion hits back at "unkind" comments on wedding to Barnaby Joyce

<p>Love triumphed over adversity last weekend as Vikki Campion, former staffer and <em>Saturday Telegraph</em> columnist, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/barnaby-joyce-and-vikki-campion-tie-the-knot-in-bush-bash-wedding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">celebrated her wedding</a> to high-profile Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce at his family's property in Woolbrook, NSW. Despite the picturesque setting and the couple's genuine joy, the event faced criticism and name-calling, prompting Campion to address the detractors in a powerful statement.</p> <p>In her <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/vikki-campion-my-perfect-wedding-and-the-barnaby-joyce-that-i-know-and-love/news-story/5ed16bef0795a10e2e0859cc161f5cbf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Saturday Telegraph</em></a> column entitled "My perfect wedding and the Barnaby Joyce that I know and love"<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">, Campion dismissed the negative comments, saying, "</span>In the country, they say one man’s trash is another’s treasure. Well, I found mine ... <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Call it trash all you like. It will always be perfect to us." </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">She remained resilient in the face of harsh judgments, emphasising that the unkind remarks had no impact on her or her husband. Instead, she focused on the love they shared, the friends who supported them, and the unique lifestyle they embraced.</span></p> <p>Campion took the opportunity to highlight the real treasure of the event: the local community. In her exclusive op-ed, she expressed gratitude for the diverse group of people who came together to make the celebration unforgettable. The wedding, she explained, brought together individuals from different backgrounds and walks of life, transcending cultural, political and socioeconomic boundaries.</p> <p>The imagery of the event painted a vivid picture of a true "bush bash," complete with Akubras, ciggies, beer and rum. The celebration, described as a return to "country style," featured over 80 guests who arrived in 4WDs, reflecting the down-to-earth atmosphere that defined the day.</p> <p>The pink and ivory-themed wedding showcased Campion in a strapless cream tulle dress with a long train, complemented by gold earrings and heeled black cowboy boots. Despite the criticism, pictures captured the couple's genuine happiness as they mingled with guests, five years after their relationship first became public.</p> <p>The wedding also marked a reunion with Joyce's young sons, Thomas and Sebastian, aged four and five, while his four adult daughters were notably absent. The absence of Joyce's adult daughters <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/i-ve-moved-on-barnaby-joyce-s-former-wife-speaks-out-after-media-circus-wedding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stirred earlier controversies</a>, adding another layer to the media scrutiny surrounding the event.</p> <p>Despite the tumultuous journey that led to this moment – Joyce's resignation as deputy prime minister and Nationals leader following the exposure of their relationship – the couple's commitment to each other remained unshaken. The ceremony took place at a location with special meaning to Joyce, creating a touching and sentimental atmosphere.</p> <p>The wedding's inclusive nature, with guests from various backgrounds and perspectives, symbolised the couple's ability to transcend the public scrutiny that had surrounded them. Campion's response to critics showcased her resilience and determination to focus on the positives, celebrating the love that brought them together.</p> <p>As Vikki Campion and Barnaby Joyce embark on this new chapter of their lives, they do so with the unwavering belief that their wedding, labelled "trash" by some, will forever be perfect in their hearts. Love prevailed over judgment, and the couple's ability to rise above the criticism serves as a testament to the strength of their bond.</p> <p><em>Images: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister / Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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"I've moved on": Barnaby Joyce's former wife speaks out after "media circus" wedding

<p>Barnaby Joyce's <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/barnaby-joyce-and-vikki-campion-tie-the-knot-in-bush-bash-wedding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"bush-bash" wedding</a> to Vikki Campion has stirred up a whirlwind of emotions and media attention, prompting Natalie Abberfield, his first wife, to finally break her silence.</p> <p>Speaking to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/barnaby-joyces-first-wife-breaks-silence-on-his-bush-bash-wedding-to-vikki-campion/news-story/e4527b65acee73ac552246771e4d018e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>, Abberfield revealed that she has successfully moved on from the heartbreak of her 24-year marriage to the former Deputy Prime Minister coming to an end.</p> <p>Abberfield acknowledged that life has taken a positive turn for her and her family since the divorce, and that she is focused on herself and the well-being of her loved ones.</p> <p>“All I want to say is, I would just like to wish the happy couple all the best,’’ she told news.com.au. “I am just looking after me and no one else I suppose. That’s probably it. Yeah. I’ve got a really good group of friends. My family is great. The girls are great. Yeah. I’ve moved on now. Totally moved on.</p> <p>“I suppose that was one chapter of my book and now I am in a few new chapters of my book.”</p> <p>The absence of an invitation to the wedding for Natalie's daughter, Odette, added a layer of complexity to the family dynamics. Odette, a 20-year-old aspiring individual, criticised the media circus surrounding the event as "tacky". Despite the strained relationship, Natalie remains close to her adult daughters, who chose not to attend their father's wedding.</p> <p>Post-divorce, Natalie has found solace and empowerment in bodybuilding, a passion she adopted as a means to "escape" the chaos that followed the end of her marriage. Contrary to media speculations, she clarified that bodybuilding was not about achieving a "revenge body" but rather a journey towards rediscovering her identity beyond the roles of wife and mother.</p> <p>The Joyce family saga has not escaped the public eye, drawing comments from then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who described Joyce's behaviour as a "shocking error of judgment". The fallout from the affair has left Natalie and her daughters grappling with hurt and humiliation.</p> <p>Joyce's youngest daughter, Odette, confirmed that none of his four daughters attended the wedding, underlining the fractured relationships within the family. Odette's criticism extended to her father's decision to involve the media in the ceremony, deeming it both "tacky" and in "poor taste".</p> <p>Prior to the recent nuptials, in a surprising yet light-hearted twist, Barnaby's daughter Julia posted an Instagram video wearing a bridal dress while Natalie appeared to wear a veil. The caption, "Getting ready to crash my dad’s wedding I didn’t get invited to, in my mum’s wedding dress," hinted at a coping mechanism for the family, with Natalie explaining that it was all "for a laugh".</p> <p>Ultimately, in the face of public scrutiny and strained family relationships, <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Natalie Abberfield appears to have </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">chosen a path of strength, focusing on her well-being, her passions and the positive aspects of her life. </span></p> <p><em>Images: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister / Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion tie the knot in "bush bash" wedding

<p>Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce and his partner, ex-staffer Vikki Campion, celebrated their union in an intimate "bush bash" wedding at Joyce's family estate in Woolbrook, near Walcha in northeast NSW.</p> <p>The event, described affectionately by a guest as a "bachelor and spinster ball", marked a significant moment in the couple's journey, which had faced public scrutiny in the past.</p> <p>The much-anticipated celebration, held five years after the revelation of their relationship, saw the couple donning Akubra hats, embracing the rustic charm of their country-style wedding. The ceremony, which prompted Joyce's resignation as deputy prime minister and Nationals leader, was a private affair, with the guest list exceeding 80 attendees.</p> <p>The pink and ivory-themed wedding unfolded with Campion radiantly adorned in a strapless cream tulle dress, featuring a long train. She paired the elegant ensemble with gold earrings and heeled black cowboy boots, epitomising the unique blend of sophistication and rural charm.</p> <p>The couple's two sons, Sebastian (5) and Thomas (4), played the role of page boys in matching chinos and navy waistcoats, adding a family touch to the heartwarming ceremony. The event took place at a location on Joyce's family property that held special significance for the couple, adding a personal touch to the nuptials.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CziVHv_S2_z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CziVHv_S2_z/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Daily Telegraph Sydney (@dailytelegraph)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Following the ceremony, guests gathered at Woolbrook hall for a country-style feast and drinks, reminiscent of a traditional bachelor and spinster ball. The event embraced a return to "country style", with guests arriving in 4x4s and a relaxed dress code featuring flat shoes and broad-brimmed hats.</p> <p>Notable attendees included Nationals MP George Christensen, adding a touch of political prominence to the celebration. The festivities also featured high-profile guests, contributing to the event's unique blend of country charm and political influence.</p> <p>However, the guest list raised questions about the attendance of Joyce's four daughters from his previous marriage to Natalie Abberfield – Julia, Caroline, Odette and Bridgette. Julia Joyce had previously taken to Instagram, expressing her humorous intent to "crash" her father's wedding in her mother's vintage wedding dress.</p> <p>The involvement of Campion's father, Peter, in giving her away added a traditional touch to the ceremony, reinforcing the significance of family in the couple's journey.</p> <p>Joyce's proposal to Campion last year, following his separation from his wife of over 25 years, marked a turning point in their relationship. The bush bash wedding served as a symbolic celebration of their love, surrounded by the rustic beauty of the Woolbrook estate. As the newlyweds embark on this new chapter, their bush bash wedding will undoubtedly be remembered as a unique blend of country charm and personal significance.</p> <p><em>Images: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister / Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Wedding bells for Barnaby Joyce

<p>In a whirlwind of controversy and headlines, the love story between former Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and his political advisor Vikki Campion is about to take centre stage in the tranquil backdrop of rural Walcha.</p> <p>According to <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/barnabys-bush-bash-wedding-byo-ute-and-swag/news-story/3ab2a5c1ff4deb18efec6fbf8a94dcba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Mail</a>, the couple, whose relationship sparked a political firestorm, is all set to tie the knot in a "bush bash" themed wedding on November 12, right in the heart of New England's countryside.</p> <p>With a select group of friends and loyal National Party supporters on the guest list, the nuptials are scheduled to kick off at 11am, at a location that is being kept tightly under wraps but is rumoured to be one of the Joyce family properties at nearby Woolbrook.</p> <p>The couple has left no stone unturned in embracing the rustic charm of the Australian bush, and their guests have been given a taste of what's in store. Attendees are encouraged to arrive in their trusty utes or robust 4WD vehicles, roll out their swags, and get ready to party until the stars light up the outback sky.</p> <p>A guest who is eagerly anticipating what has been dubbed the "political wedding of the year" described the event as reminiscent of a B&S (bachelor and spinster) ball, saying, "It's very much Barnaby getting back to his country roots...we can't wait. The naysayers said they wouldn't get to this point, but this is two people in love, and we can't wait to celebrate."</p> <p>Further details about the exact wedding location will be shared with guests closer to the date, but they have been assured of an abundance of refreshments and entertainment well into the night.</p> <p>Many of the attendees are expected to embrace the full country experience, spending the night in their swags under the vast, starlit sky or in the back of their trusty utes. For those who prefer a more comfortable resting place, a bus will be on hand to shuttle them back to the nearby town, where they can find lodgings at the local country hotel.</p> <p>Adding to the sentimental charm of this country wedding are Joyce and Campion's two sons, Sebastian and Tom, who are expected to play a special role in the ceremony. The fact that the ceremony and reception are at the same location underscores the couple's desire to keep the event intimate and close-knit.</p> <p>It is understood that one of Barnaby Joyce's four daughters from his previous marriage to Natalie will also be in attendance, marking a significant step toward mending relationships that have been strained since the affair came to light.</p> <p>Barnaby Joyce's proposal to Vikki Campion over dinner in Coffs Harbour in January 2022 marked the beginning of a new chapter in their relationship, nearly four years after their affair was thrust into the public eye.</p> <p>The journey to this wedding day was not without its challenges. At the height of the affair's revelation, the then Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, criticised Joyce for a "shocking error of judgment" due to the affair and the pain it caused the women in his life. Consequently, Joyce stepped down from his role as Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader in the face of mounting pressure to resign.</p> <p>Natalie Joyce, Barnaby's former wife, was thrust into the spotlight when she claimed she had no knowledge of her husband's infidelity. Today, Barnaby Joyce serves as the Member for New England and holds the position of Shadow Minister for Veteran Affairs, representing the same region where his love story with Vikki Campion is set to culminate in a unique and charming "bush bash" wedding.</p> <p>As the couple exchanges their vows and dances under the stars of rural Australia, they bid farewell to the past, embracing a brighter and more united future, surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the New England countryside.</p> <p><em>Image: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister</em></p>

Relationships

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Three-time Olympian rushed to hospital

<p>Three-time Olympian Vicki Roycroft is in intensive care after suffering a suspected heart attack at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. </p> <p>It has been reported that the 70-year-old equestrian was preparing to participate in an equestrian show jumping competition when she suffered a heart attack and was rushed to Concord Hospital.</p> <p>Vicki’s sister shared an update in the wake of the terrifying incident, informing Vicki’s friends and fans that she had endured a “large tear in her aorta” and according to eyewitnesses had not been breathing for 10 minutes. While she had been stabilised at that stage, she was also in the midst of an 8 hour bypass surgery with doctors who were “amazed with her fitness”, and it would be roughly 3-4 days until they knew exactly how much damage the former Olympian was facing.</p> <p>The medical episode was confirmed by a spokesperson from the Easter Show, who told the <em>Sydney Morning Herald </em>that “the on-site St John Ambulance team attended to her immediately, with treatment also provided by NSW Ambulance paramedics.</p> <p>“The thoughts of the entire Royal Agricultural Society of NSW and horse community at the show are with Vicki and her loved ones at this time.”</p> <p>As news continued to break, support flowed in across Vicki’s social media account, with many also wishing the athlete a happy birthday, who had turned 70 while in hospital. </p> <p>Alongside the well wishes came a further update from Vicki’s partner Neil Trickett, who shared with everyone that their beloved Vicki had had “a brief moment of semi-consciousness” and was “holding her own”. </p> <p>He also reported “she did not squeeze a medical staff member's hand when asked, but maybe was lapsing back into unconsciousness. At this stage she will continue with heavy sedation until possibly tomorrow afternoon/evening, when a decision will be made on whether to allow her to begin to fully wake-up.”</p> <p>Neil added that a full assessment would take place over the coming days to determine any potential neurological deficits Vicki may be facing, but that “Vicki's will and determination, not to mention the incredible medical professionals in whose care she remains, are what will get her through the next few days. That she survived due to a clot that was plugging the tear in her aorta is indeed miraculous.</p> <p>“She is going to be utterly blown away by the good will that is spreading around the country - and around the world - when she wakes up.”</p> <p>And for those worried about the future of Vicki’s career and passion for it, he had an optimistic answer, explaining “if that [the support] was all it took to get her back to full strength, she'd be riding tomorrow. It may take a little longer, but she WILL be back on the horse.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty, Shutterstock</em></p>

Caring

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“He’s not a cowboy, he’s an actor”: Jane Campion hits back at Sam Elliott

<p dir="ltr">Director Jane Campion has <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/jane-campion-hits-back-at-actor-sam-elliotts-sexist-criticism-of-power-of-the-dog/EUZNS3TH6OIMEAAM4TL3HZJXLI/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called out</a> actor Sam Elliott after he criticised her film <em>The Power of the Dog</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Campion called Elliott “a little bit sexist” and a “b****” a week after he slammed her film for being filmed in New Zealand and its theme of repressed homosexuality, claiming she didn’t know anything about the American West.</p> <p dir="ltr">The New Zealand director responded to Elliott’s criticism over the weekend while speaking at the Directors Guild of America awards in Los Angeles.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-058a9625-7fff-38f0-dcd6-2a2ebc2dab96"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m sorry, he was being a little bit of a B-I-T-C-H. I’m sorry to say it but he’s not a cowboy, he’s an actor. The West is a mythic space and there’s a lot of room on the range. I think it’s a little bit sexist,” she said.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jane Campion responds to Sam Elliott's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThePowerOfTheDog?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThePowerOfTheDog</a> comments: "I'm sorry, he was being a little bit of a B-I-T-C-H. He's not a cowboy; he's an actor. The West is a mythic space and there's a lot of room on the range. I think it's a little bit sexist." <a href="https://t.co/I32wQ8lCiF">https://t.co/I32wQ8lCiF</a> <a href="https://t.co/Tftq4AoXCy">pic.twitter.com/Tftq4AoXCy</a></p> <p>— Variety (@Variety) <a href="https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1502839949212545028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“I consider myself a creator. I think he thinks of me as a woman or something lesser first.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Elliott initially shared his views during an interview on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast several weeks ago, when asked what he thought about the movie.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They made it look like those dancers, those guys in New York who wear bow ties and not much else,” he said.<br />“That’s what all these f***ing cowboys in the movie look like. They’re all running around in chaps and no shirts. There’s all these allusions to homosexuality throughout the movie.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When Maron responded with, “I think that’s what the movie’s about”, referencing how it’s heavily implied Benedict Cumberbatch’s character is a repressed gay man, Elliott claimed Campion was out of her depth making a Western.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She’s a brilliant director, by the way, I love her … previous work - but what the f*** does this woman from down there, New Zealand, know about the American West?” Elliott said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And why in the f*** does she shoot this movie in New Zealand and call it Montana and say, ‘This is the way it was’. That f***ing rubbed me the wrong way pal.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The myth is that they were these macho men out there with the cattle. I just come from f***ing Texas where I was hanging out with families, not men, families, big, long, extended, multiple-generation families.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Power of the Dog</em>, a Western psychological drama, has been nominated for 12 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, which has made Campion the first woman to be nominated for best director twice.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-62722e99-7fff-5a45-15ba-2fc46d8d2851"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Movies

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Barnaby Joyce's fiancée shares the story of their scandalous relationship

<p>Barnaby Joyce's fiancée has shared the tumultuous story of the pair's relationship, which hit turbulent times after their affair was make public. </p> <p>Vikki Campion, who is 18 years younger than the National's leader, feared she would have to give birth alone and "walk away" from judgemental friends when she was secretly pregnant to the now Deputy Prime Minister.</p> <p>In 2018, Vikki gave birth to their son Sebastian and their second son Thomas a year later. </p> <p>The very public affair between the MP and his staffer forced Barnaby to step down from his role in politics, only to be reinstated years later. </p> <p>Despite the couple's relationship beginning with a rocky start, the pair got engaged in Coffs Harbour last week, with Vikki comparing their relationship to a "great love throughout history".</p> <p>Vikki admitted that the early days of their relationship "wasn't perfect", but also insists that she doesn't regret the drama surrounding their infidelity. </p> <p>In a column for <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/vikki-campion-on-bended-knees-barnaby-asked-me-i-melted/news-story/10307fbe332d4a99bf9c3103ecfa763a" target="_blank">The Daily Telegraph</a>, Vikki said, "<span>Even until the day he said in Parliament that I was his partner, I didn’t believe it to be accurate. He said he would be there in the labour ward and I didn’t believe that either."</span></p> <p><span>The mother-of-two went on to explain that during a whirlwind of "twisted mistakes" and "</span>humiliation", she was forced to "walk away" from her friends before they got the chance to "exile" her. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">"You swap your job for harsh stares, paparazzi and paranoia, schoolyard ­rumours cooking up in Ultimo newsrooms, many without a yolk of truth and you stop answering the door," she said.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">"He has asked me a thousand times: 'Would you go through it all again?' And my answer has always been yes."</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">In December 2017, Barnaby Joyce used the distraction fo the parliamentary debate on same sex marriage to confirm he was no longer with Natalie, his ex-wife of 24 years and mother to his four daughters. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">After photos emerged of a heavily pregnant Vikki, his then staff member, the pair were forced to confirm their relationship, sending Barnaby's political career into disarray. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">After spending several years forced to the backbench of Parliament, Barnaby was reinstated as the leader of the Nationals party in June 2021. </p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Relationships

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Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion welcome second child

<div> <div class="replay"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce and his partner Vikki Campion have welcomed their second child on Saturday night.</p> <p>According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/vikki-campion-and-barnaby-joyce-welcome-second-baby/news-story/0357cbe7195410a9ee9d306efba4cc7c" target="_blank"><em>The Sunday Telegraph</em></a>, the child is named Tom, after Joyce’s grandfather Thomas.</p> <p>Thomas Michael Timothy was born on Saturday and is a younger brother to the couple’s first son, Sebastian, who arrived just 14 months ago.</p> <p>The baby weighed 3.9kg and is 54cm long.</p> <p>Michael is also believed to be a family name, while his second middle name is believed to be a nod to Joyce’s brother Timothy Joyce, who passed away from cancer in June last year.</p> <p>Joyce told reporters on Sunday he is “looking forward to Tom and Seb knocking paint off each other in the backyard”.</p> <p>Controversy has followed the couple as Joyce was forced to resign due to revelations of his affair with Campion, who was pregnant with Sebastian at the time.</p> <p>It quickly emerged that Joyce had left his partner of 24 years, Natalie, and resumed a relationship with Campion, which then Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull was less than impressed with.</p> <p>As a result of the affair, Joyce resigned, and Turnbull introduced a ban on ministers having sexual relations with their staffers.</p> <p>Turnbull was open with his disdain and publicly denounced the actions of Joyce at the time.</p> <p>“But I think we know that the real issue is the terrible hurt and humiliation that Barnaby, by his conduct, has visited upon his wife, Natalie, and their daughters and, indeed, his new partner,” Turnbull said at the time.</p> <p>“Barnaby made a shocking error of judgement in having an affair with a young woman working in his office. In doing so, he has set off a world of woe for those women and appalled all of us.”</p> <p>The couple also gave a tell-all interview to Channel Seven’s <em>Sunday Night</em>, where the couple “auctioned off” the interview and pocketed $150,000 for the highest bid. They have held the funds in a trust account for Sebastian.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

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Barnaby Joyce announces baby no. 2 with Vikki Campion: "I'm really happy – it's a great blessing"

<p>Barnaby Joyce and his partner Vikki Campion are expecting their second child together.</p> <p>The former Nationals leader and ex-campaign staffer are due to have their second son in June.</p> <p>“We are actually having another child, called Tom, so there you go,” Mr Joyce said to Channel 7 cameras on Sunday afternoon.</p> <p>He apologised for his partner's lack of attendance at a fundraiser event before revealing the family’s new “great blessing”.</p> <p>An anonymous close friend also confirmed to The Sunday Mail, “Another boy is due in June this year. The name is already picked out — Thomas, after Barney’s grandfather."</p> <p>The friend added, “They plan to include (the name) Timothy, Barney’s youngest brother who sadly died last June after a brave battle with lung cancer. Tim was only 42 and has a gorgeous wife and three young children. His death really rocked Barney (as he is known to family and friends),” the friend said.</p> <p>Nationals leader Michael McCormack congratulated the couple this morning.</p> <p>“Congratulations to Barnaby and Vikki, I’ve messaged him this morning to say congratulations,” he said.</p> <p>Opposition leader Bill Shorten also sent well wishes and congratulations saying to reporters in Queensland on Sunday: “Whenever a child is born it is good news.”</p> <p>The new pregnancy is the latest chapter to unravel in a saga that revealed Joyce was having an affair with his then-campaign staffer, Vikki Campion, last year.</p> <p>After the revelations surfaced last February, he resigned as deputy prime minister and National leader. </p> <p>Barnaby has four daughter with ex-wife Natalie – Bridgette, 21, Julia, 20, Caroline, 19, and Odette, 16. </p> <p> </p>

News

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Barnaby Joyce reveals why he lied to the media about being the father of his new child

<p>When journalists asked Barnaby Joyce whether he was the father of Vikki Campion’s unborn child, the former deputy prime minister struggled to give an answer, saying it was a “grey area”.</p> <p>The ambiguous answer caused even more controversy for the scandal-ridden politician, who later had to backtrack his denial and clarify that Sebastian was his son.</p> <p>Now, Mr Joyce has explained the thinking behind his bizarre answer in his new book <em>Weatherboard and Iron: Politics, the Bush and Me</em>.  </p> <p>The politician said his “terrible mistake” was made because he didn’t want to give the media any further details about the affair.</p> <p>“Somehow I thought that creating doubt by not having all the details might switch this frenzy off,” he wrote.</p> <p>“You are not logical when under intense pressure for weeks.”</p> <p>The “grey area” comments made by Mr Joyce opened him up to further ridicule, including from his New England rival Tony Windsor.</p> <p>Mr Windsor tweeted at the time: “If anyone had doubts about Joyce’s character I think they now have a clear picture of this grub, will sacrifice others on his blundering self-centred path. How many more women does he have to damage?”</p> <p>Mr Joyce also revealed in the book that he wanted to go away and die following the scandal that ruined his marriage and career.</p> <p>“When you stop thinking about how sad it will be when you have gone, to thinking, I have hurt so many that I want to go without anybody knowing,” he wrote.</p> <p>In an interview with the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em style="font-weight: inherit;">Sydney Morning Herald</em></strong></span></a>, Mr Joyce said he had to receive help from a psychiatrist, who diagnosed him with depression.</p> <p>In his book, he describes how he grew apart from his now estranged wife, Natalie, as he drank heavily and pursued other women in Canberra for years.</p> <p>“When I was at home I was a lie, and when I was in Canberra I was ashamed,” he wrote.</p> <p>“Winston Churchill had his black dog: mine was a half-crazed cattle dog, biting everything that came near the yard.</p> <p>“But the downside comes as well, when you get sad in the afternoon because it’s the afternoon and there are not enough clouds in the sky …</p> <p>“When you stop thinking about how sad it will be when you have gone, to thinking, I have hurt so many that I want to go without anybody knowing.”</p> <p>Mr Joyce dedicated the book to his “beloved daughters and son” and wrote to them: “I wish I could have given you a life outside the spotlight I turned on.”</p> <p>“I wanted the best for you but was blinded in the glare of the exertion.”</p> <p>He also describes Ms Campion as “my at times, typist, editor, critic and ever-patient partner, sitting tortured behind her keyboard trying to make sense of me.”</p> <p>It is believed Ms Campion became pregnant around July or August last year, a time in which she transferred from Resource Minister Matt Canavan’s office into a newly created role for Nationals MP Damian Dunn.</p> <p>During the transition, she did return to Mr Joyce’s office for a number of weeks.</p>

Books

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“She called 20 times a day”: How Vikki Campion relentlessly pursued Barnaby Joyce

<p>More details have emerged out of <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2018/06/natalie-joyce-opens-up-about-the-moment-she-confronted-vikki-campion/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Natalie Joyce’s first interview</strong></span></a> about her estranged husband Barnaby Joyce’s affair with his former staff member Vikki Campion.</p> <p>In an unpaid interview with the <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/local-news/natalie-joyce-interview-barnaby-joyce-49339" target="_blank"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Australian Women’s Weekly</strong></span></em></a>, Natalie claimed Vikki Campion relentlessly pursued the former Deputy Prime Minister, bombarding him with phone calls while he was attempting to work on his marriage.</p> <p>Natalie said in July she joined her husband on an official trip to Europe to give their 24-year marriage “one last shot”.</p> <p>“Apparently [Ms Campion] had given ‘her permission’ for me to go. I thought that he needed me by his side,” Natalie told the magazine.</p> <p>“So I agreed on one condition — no contact with her for two weeks — but she was relentless and called sometimes 20 times a day.”</p> <p>Within weeks of the couple’s return from Europe, Vikki was pregnant with Barnaby’s child. Vikki gave birth to their son, Sebastian, in April.</p> <p>Natalie said she felt personally “taunted” by the child’s name, as Sebastian was her and Barnaby’s choice of name for a boy.</p> <p>“It felt like another malicious taunt in a very long line of appalling behaviour,” Natalie said.</p> <p>“He always wanted a boy and while the girls really are the epicentre of his universe, we had no chance, she was giving him a son.”</p> <p>Natalie also revealed the toll the controversial $150,000 Sunday Night interview had on her daughters.</p> <p>She said she watched the program with close family members and took several calls from her heartbroken and angry daughters asking why their dad did this to them.</p> <p>“They were asking if their dad ever changed their nappies and, for the most part, I had to say no,” she said.</p> <p>“It’s disgraceful to air such rot. Did they consider the girls were in the middle of exams?</p> <p>“They’ve been pushed aside and it remains to be seen if that can be mended. There are many casualties here.</p> <p>“Whether the girls will ever meet Sebastian, that’s their decision and I’ll support them either way.”</p>

Relationships

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“She wanted my life”: Natalie Joyce opens up about the moment she confronted Vikki Campion

<p>Barnaby Joyce's estranged wife Natalie has revealed the moment she confronted her husband’s mistress Vikki Campion in a last ditch bid to save her marriage.</p> <p>“I was very measured. I didn't raise my voice. She and Barney were smoking outside. He bolted when he saw me,” she 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.”</p> <p>Amid the months of scandal surrounding her husband’s affair with his former media advisor, Natalie Joyce has been praised for her “quiet dignity”. But now in an unpaid tell-all interview with <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/local-news/natalie-joyce-breaks-her-silence-49318">Australian Women’s Weekly</a></strong></em></span>, she feels compelled to  break her silence to “defend our (family’s) name” and so her four daughters – Bridgette, 21, Julia, 20, Caroline, 19, and Odette, 15 - “feel empowered, and know their mum stood up and defended our fine name”.</p> <p><img width="432" height="431" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/20/16/4D6F8E5C00000578-5865291-Happier_times_Barnaby_Joyce_celebrates_International_Women_s_Day-a-42_1529510078397.jpg" alt="Happier times: Barnaby Joyce celebrates International Women's Day with his girls and wife, Natalie, in 2016" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-5696daf5447bafeb"/></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2018/06/barnaby-joyce-ex-wife-finally-breaks-her-silence/">In the interview</a></strong></span>, Natalie, 48, recalls her first impressions of Vikki Campion in 2016 at the Joyces' family home.</p> <p>"She was so cold," Natalie said of Vikki’s icy demeanour. "She wanted my life from the get-go. This was a whole lot more than a fleeting office romance."</p> <p>A few months later Natalie suspected something between her 50-year-old husband and his 33-year-old staffer.</p> <p>“After watching them at the Nationals Christmas party, I had a feeling they were having an affair," Natalie told <em>The Weekly</em>. "As it turned out their tawdry union was the worst kept secret in Canberra.”</p> <p><img width="454" height="292" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/20/23/4D6F8E8C00000578-5867529-Controversial_interview_Natalie_Joyce_said_she_was_tempted_to_th-m-5_1529532645537.jpg" alt="Natalie Joyce said she was 'proud she stood up' to her husband's mistress at his Tamworth electorate office in last March. Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion pictured with son Sebastian  " class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" id="i-b95ca988ad51b302"/></p> <p>As their marriage crumbled and the news broke that Vikki was carrying Barnaby’s baby, Natalie was still determined to save her marriage of 24 years.</p> <p>"I asked him to come home," she recalls. "He said, 'I can't, she's pregnant and I have to be there for my son.' He always wanted a boy and, while the girls really are the epicentre of his universe, we had no chance: she was giving him a son."</p> <p>But there was more humiliation to come. When the name of Barnaby and Vikki's son was revealed in April to be Sebastian, it was a personal kick in the guts for Natalie.</p> <p>"It felt like another malicious taunt in a very long line of appalling behaviour," said Natalie.</p> <p>Had they ever had a son, they had always planned to name him Sebastian.</p> <p>Of the much-talked about <em>Sunday Night</em> interview, Natalie labelled it an “absolute disgrace”. But it didn’t come as a surprise to Natalie that Vikki was the driving force behind it.</p> <p>"I wasn't surprised she sold their 'exclusive' story, and certainly not surprised the $150,000 went to her child, but it begs the question, if Barney agreed to be a part of it, how could he allow his four girls to be overlooked? In saying that, I wouldn't want a cent of that money. It was all we could do to watch it without throwing a brick at the TV!" she said.</p>

News

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Barnaby Joyce’s ex-wife finally breaks her silence: “I knew I had to find my voice”

<p>It seems the Barnaby Joyce scandal has been reignited with his ex-wife Natalie Joyce giving her first interview to the <em><a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/local-news/natalie-joyce-breaks-her-silence-49318">Australian Women’s Weekly</a></em>.</p> <p>Previously having been praised for her “quiet dignity”, Natalie has not held back in her exclusive sit-down with the magazine, talking about what she and her four daughters with the politician (Bridgette, 21, Julia, 20, Caroline, 19, and Odette, 15) thought of his controversial interview on <em>Sunday Night</em>, along with what she thinks of his affair with Vikki Campion.</p> <p>The reason Natalie has chosen to break her silence now is because she wanted to “defend our (family’s) name”.</p> <p>Labelling the controversial TV interview – which Barnaby and Vikki were paid $150,000 for by Channel Seven – as “an absolute disgrace”, Natalie told <em>AWW</em> she was not surprised Ms Campion was the driving force behind it and had sold the new couple’s story to <em>Sunday Night</em>.</p> <p><img width="499" height="262" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7819285/2-barnaby-family_499x262.jpg" alt="2 Barnaby -family"/></p> <p>“It begs the question, if Barney agreed to be a part of it, how could he allow his four girls to be overlooked?” Natalie exclaimed, who also believes the former deputy PM is on the verge of a breakdown.</p> <p>“I wouldn’t want a cent of that money, it was all we could do to watch it without throwing a brick at the TV,” she admitted.</p> <p>While close friends have praised Natalie for her “quiet dignity” since news of her former husband’s affair broke in February, the mum-of-four told <em>AWW</em> the reason why she was speaking up now was “so the girls feel empowered, and know their mum stood up and defended our fine name”.</p> <p>Natalie, who was not paid for her candid interview with the <em>Weekly</em>, added, “I’m normally a very private person but I knew I had to find my voice. They thought I would lie down, but this time I couldn’t.”</p>

News

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Channel 7 releases second Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion video following backlash

<p>After Channel 7’s exclusive interview with Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion aired on Sunday night, the network received an immediate wave of backlash.</p> <p>Interviewer Alex Cullen was scrutinised for not asking the pair questions about whether they had misused funds from the public for travel and whether Mr Joyce had helped Ms Campion receive a lucrative job with the National Party.</p> <p>Seven Network responded to the criticism by posting a part two of the controversial tell-all.</p> <p>Retweeting the second video, Cullen wrote: “For those who asked."</p> <p>Before releasing the second video, Cullen had justified the decision to focus the TV interview on the couple’s relationship and their newborn son, Sebastian.</p> <p>Cullen said the former deputy Prime Minister had denied any wrongdoing and so there was “nothing new” to contribute to the interview.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">I’d like to make it clear that q’s about Joyce’s alleged tax-payer funded travel rorts and claims of sexual misconduct were asked in our <a href="https://twitter.com/sundaynighton7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sundaynighton7</a> I/V. The response to these q’s was the same as we’ve heard time and time again. Vehemently denied hence nothing new. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Auspol</a></p> — Alex Cullen (@alextcullen) <a href="https://twitter.com/alextcullen/status/1003468641117978624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>But Channel 7 decided to release the extra footage last night, which showed Mr Joyce responding to the misused funds allegations and Ms Campion claiming she is owed money for her work in Parliament.</p> <p>In the newly released footage, Ms Campion shared with Cullen some of the insults that were thrown at her when it was first reported that she was pregnant.</p> <p>“I’m a rent-a-root,” Ms Campion said, gesturing with air quotes to share what she had read on social media written about herself.</p> <p>"Yeah,” Mr Joyce replied with an awkward laugh.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Barnaby_Joyce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Barnaby_Joyce</a> says he's not worried about the political consequences of a paid interview on Seven's <a href="https://twitter.com/sundaynighton7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sundaynighton7</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/Riley7News?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Riley7News</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/7News?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#7News</a> <a href="https://t.co/WPhI1my92U">pic.twitter.com/WPhI1my92U</a></p> — 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) <a href="https://twitter.com/7NewsSydney/status/1003555417316720640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>The politician also responded to allegations the couple had misused funds from the public to take several trips.</p> <p>“They have investigated this to death,” Mr Joyce said, claiming he has been questioned by the Parliamentary Expenses Authority.  </p> <p>“I’ve had like 160 inquiries and at this point not one, not one, has come up saying, ‘Oh, this is a problem’.”</p> <p>Ms Campion revealed that she is also having her expenses investigated.</p> <p>“They have found that they actually owe me money,” she said.</p> <p>Reports have suggested that Ms Campion’s high-paying jobs were created to move her out of Mr Joyce’s office when the affair started.</p> <p>However, Ms Campion claimed she took a pay cut to work with the Nationals after working with the NSW government.</p> <p>“I actually took a big pay cut. My wage actually dropped significantly,” she said.</p> <p>Yesterday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull denied the couple’s allegations that they had been told by members of parliament to get an abortion.</p> <p>“I’m not aware of anybody doing that to anyone,” Mr Turnbull said.</p> <p>Last night’s episode of <em>Q&amp;A </em>addressed the controversial interview with former Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie revealing she was worried about Mr Joyce’s health.</p> <p>“Look, I’m going to be very brutally honest and I have been about this all the way through. This is beyond a midlife crisis. This is not the Barnaby Joyce I know. I am concerned about his mental welfare. I’m not going to sit here and kick them while he’s down and out. My heart is going out to him and both of them,” she said.</p> <p>“But if you can’t keep it in your pants you’re going to pay the price. It’s as simple as that and he’s now paying the price for that.”</p>

TV

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Body language expert weighs in on bizarre Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion interview

<p>On Sunday night, 614,000 Australian viewers tuned in to watch Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion’s tell-all TV interview.</p> <p>The former Deputy Prime Minister and his partner accepted $150,000 from the Seven Network to tell their side of the political scandal.</p> <p>Now, body language and voice expert Dr Louise Mahler has weighed in on the interview, suggesting that Ms Campion showed a lack of love for her partner.</p> <p>“There were no signs of affection between them,” she told <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/" target="_blank">The Daily Telegraph</a></strong></span></em>. </p> <p>“They are two people, not a couple, doing the best in a bad situation.”</p> <p>Dr Mahler also suggested that Ms Campion takes the lead in the relationship after walking into the interview ahead of Mr Joyce and sitting down before him.</p> <p>She also said that Ms Campion was leaning away from Mr Joyce throughout the interview and often interrupted him.</p> <p>Dr Mahler said that this behaviour was a sign that the couple argue often.</p> <p>The body language expert also believes that Ms Campion is struggling to cope with the pressure of their scandal, despite putting on a brave face in front of the cameras.</p> <p>In the <em>Sunday Night</em> interview, Ms Campion revealed that she was told by members of the National party to have an abortion.</p> <p>“They came to me and they said: 'You're pregnant and you have to get an abortion'. And they said: 'If you don't, they're going to come after you',” she said. </p> <p>“And I said: 'It's too late, it has a heartbeat'. And they said: 'If you don't, they're going to come after you'.”<br /> Mr Joyce described those that had threatened Ms Campion as the “absolute scum of the earth”.</p> <p>“Their contribution to it is they're going to try and make an incredibly difficult situation almost unbearable by saying to you that, 'Woman, you will do this if you want a career in this place'. And that's your Australian parliament,” he said.<br /> During the interview, Mr Joyce admitted to “living a lie” by continuing his public relationship with his wife while being involved with Ms Campion.</p> <p>The politician refused to comment on his wife and four daughters, saying that was “completely private”.</p> <p>Mr Joyce told the Seven Network that he had let his family down during the scandal.</p> <p>“I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed,” he said.  </p> <p>Ms Campion also confessed that she had been hurt by Mr Joyce telling media that their son Sebastian’s paternity was a “grey area”.</p> <p>“It was a decision we made together,” Mr Joyce said of his controversial comment, before she rebutted: “I didn't tell you to say it was a ‘grey area’.”</p> <p>Despite the national scrutiny of their relationship, Ms Campion said the pain they faced was the price of love.</p> <p>“I couldn't help it. You can't help who you fall in love with,” she said.</p>

Body

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The most gobsmacking moments in the Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion interview

<p>Barnaby Joyce’s new partner Vikki Campion has broken her silence about her relationship with the former Deputy PM, revealing she was pressured into having an abortion after she discovered she was pregnant.</p> <p>Speaking to Channel 7’s <em>Sunday Night</em>, Ms Campion said she had purchased the medicine to terminate her baby after “conservatives” within the National Party pressured her.</p> <p>“They came to me and they said ‘You’re pregnant and you have to get an abortion’. And they said, ‘If you don’t, they’re gonna come after you’,” she said.</p> <p>“And I said, ‘it’s too late, it has a heartbeat.’ And they said, ‘If you don’t, they’re gonna come after you.’’’</p> <p>“And they did,” Mr Joyce said.</p> <p>Ms Campion said she was “overwhelmed” to discover she was pregnant in winter 2017 and that she had taken the pregnancy test alone.</p> <p>“I took the pregnancy test and that was it … I felt overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation which we’d caused ourselves,” she said.</p> <p>Ms Campion said she considered everything from abortion to adoption.</p> <p>“I bought the medicine online. You can’t do it in the ACT. I drove interstate. I walked in. And then I walked out again,” Ms Campion said of how close she came to terminating the pregnancy.</p> <p>In the end, she decided to keep their baby, citing Mr Joyce’s anti-abortion stance and the fact it had been a “miracle” for her to conceive.</p> <p>“I had medical issues which made me believe and what I had been told, certainly by doctors, that I wouldn’t have children,” she said.</p> <p>The couple, however, refused to name who had targeted Ms Campion but Mr Joyce said those involved were “absolute scum of the earth people.”</p> <p>“Their contribution to it is they’re gonna try and make an incredibly difficult situation almost unbearable by saying to you that, ‘Woman, you will do this if you want a career in this place.’ And that’s your Australian Parliament,” he said.</p> <p>But the most awkward moment of the interview came when the couple clashed over Mr Joyce’s controversial statements that the paternity of Ms Campion’s child was a “grey area”.</p> <p>In the interview, Mr Joyce attempted to distance himself from the comments.</p> <p>“Yeah, well, it was actually a decision we made together,” he said.</p> <p>Ms Campion responded: “I didn’t say use the words ‘grey area’. I was deeply hurt by the ‘grey area’ headline.”</p> <p>The former Nationals leader then blamed the media and sleepless nights for saying “something crazy”.</p> <p>“If I lock you in this house and put a heap of journalists outside, and stop you sleeping, and have drones at your window, coming up to your window. And they go and knock all your neighbours and then film you through your back fence, I reckon after a couple weeks, you’ll probably say something crazy,” he said.</p>

News

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David Koch hits out at Barnaby Joyce ahead of controversial interview: What about “his real family”?

<p>Ahead of the controversial tell-all with Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion, David Koch sat down with journalist Alex Cullen, who will be hosting the <em>Sunday Night</em> interview.  </p> <p>Joyce and Campion controversially accepted $150,000 from the Seven Network to share their story.</p> <p>Kochie was eager to ask Cullen about Joyce’s “real family” and whether Barnaby mentions them in the interview.</p> <p>The Sunrise host asked, “Does he talk about the other family ... his real family?”</p> <p>“I sometimes wonder what they're going through with all of this … does he talk about the other family [in the interview]?”</p> <p>Joyce’s affair with Campion ended his 24-year marriage to his wife, Natalie, who he has four daughters with.</p> <p>Cullen confirmed that Joyce does speak about his wife and daughters during the TV interview.</p> <p>“I asked about his family because he is still married, he's not divorced … and it was an affair, let's face it,” Cullen said.  </p> <p>The former Deputy Prime Minister confessed to the Seven Network that he had letdown his family.</p> <p>“I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed, I failed,” Joyce said. </p> <p>In the interview, which is the first time Campion has spoken publicly about the scandal since their affair boke, it is revealed that the couple were pressured to abort their baby.</p> <p>“The pressure on [Vikki] was immense … [she was] a 30-year-old woman having an affair with the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia at that time,” Cullen said.</p> <p>The journalist said that after the interview airs, the public could change their opinion on the couple.</p> <p>“Once you hear what she has to say, you hear her side of the story, opinions may very well change,” he said.</p> <p>“I see people that are very much in love.</p> <p>“They told me that they’re absolutely in this for the long haul.</p> <p>“And let’s face it, they’ve also got a six-week-old baby on their hands, which is little Sebastian. They’re very much a family.”</p> <p>Will you be watching the Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion's TV interview on Sunday night? Tell us in the comments below. </p>

Family & Pets

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Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion paid $150,000 for Sunday Night interview

<p>Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and his new partner Vikki Campion are set to give an exclusive interview to Seven's Sunday Night program that reportedly cost the broadcaster $150,000.</p> <p>Mr Joyce and Ms Campion’s relationship has been the centre of a publicity storm since news of their affair broke on February 7. Their son Sebastian was born on April 16.</p> <p>Mr Joyce has repeatedly appealed to the politicians and the public to stop scrutinising his private life and “move on”.</p> <p>Seven paid $150,000 to secure the interview rights following a bidding war with Nine's 60 Minutes, News Corp reported.</p> <p>The Daily Telegraph – which first broke the story by publishing photos of the pregnant Ms Campion on its front page in February – has hit back at the interview, revealing that Mr Joyce has complained to the Australian Press Council that his privacy was breached.</p> <p>“Yet in an extraordinary decision by a senior politician who still believes he should be deputy prime minister, the pair have sold their privacy to a tabloid TV show,” the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/mps-outraged-over-barnaby-joyce-and-vikki-campions-decision-to-sell-their-story/news-story/0a4a51ffdc850961fe1f03990f170b10?login=1">paper wrote</a>.</strong></span></p> <p>Mr Joyce has four daughters with his estranged wife Natalie. At the time the story first broke, Natalie said she was “deeply saddened by the news that my husband has been having an affair and is now having a child with a former staff member”.</p>

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