5 Mar 2018

'Grey area' over paternity of Barnaby Joyce's love child?

From Morning Report, 6:13 am on 5 March 2018

Australia's former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce has cast doubt on whether he is the father of his new partner's baby. Mr Joyce has been quoted by Fairfax media saying the identity of the child's biological father is a "grey area". However he says he won't be getting a paternity test and is planning to raise the child as his own regardless of who the father is. Mr Joyce was forced to resign as deputy prime minister and leader of The Nationals over his relationship with his former staffer Vikki Campion and the subsequent break up of his marriage. Mr Joyce has conducted a number of interviews about his relationship with Ms Campion but this is the first time he has raised any doubts that it may not be his biological child. Former Australian cross-bench senator Nick Xenophon says it's time for Mr Joyce to stop talking about his personal life.