Barnaby Joyce lashes out at Malcolm Turnbull
Barnaby Joyce has directly hit back at Malcolm Turnbull accusing him of “inept and damaging” comments on the breakdown of his marriage.
In an extraordinary public statement, the embattled deputy prime minister and Nationals leader, lashed out at the prime minister within minutes of Turnbull again addressing media on the Joyce controversy.
“I thought that was completely unnecessary and all that is going to do is basically pull the scab off to everybody to have a look at,” Joyce said.
“Comments by the prime minister yesterday at his press conference ... I thought that was completely unnecessary and all that is going to do is basically pull the scab off to everybody to have a look at,” he said.
Joyce again apologised to his wife and to his daughters but said he would not be standing down over his relationship with former staffer Vikki Campion.
“This was a personal issue that was dragged into the public arena, and I don’t believe people should resign in any job because of personal issues.
“I am incredibly sorry for the hurt I have caused Natalie, my daughters, and Vikki, since my marriage broke up last year. I say that again, I am incredibly sorry and I apologise to the people of New England and I appreciate the immense support I have received.”
He also warned against the Liberal party intervening in the National party leadership.
“In regards to the National Party, there is nothing that we dislike more than implied intervention into the party processes of the National Party,” he said.
Joyce said he accepted Turnbull’s new rule banning sex with staffers, but also said it would create problems of its own.
“It is the prime minister’s code, we will support it, and we will do our best endeavours to see it through. It goes without saying that this will create immense fodder for the good people in the media and it will obviously reverberate across all political parties,” Joyce said.