BARNABY BABY NO:2 ‘DAD, HOW COULD YOU?’
THE EMBATTLED POLITICIAN’S FOUR DAUGHTERS ARE IN SHOCK
As news broke last week that Barnaby Joyce and his former mistressturned- girlfriend Vikki Campion are expecting their second child together in less than 12 months, thoughts quickly turned to the Aussie politician’s estranged wife Natalie and the couple’s four daughters. Now, New Idea can reveal that Bridgette, Odette, Caroline and Julia Joyce have rallied around their mother after learning that their father is having another baby to his ex-staffer – the woman who tore their family apart.
“The girls are still in shock,” reveals a family friend, adding the girls have still not met their baby stepbrother Sebastian.
“They just can’t believe Vikki is pregnant again. They hadn’t even fully recovered from their parents’ very public split and the first pregnancy and now there’s another baby already on the way. They just feel so betrayed.”
According to the friend, it’s more the public humiliation which has upset Nat and the girls. “Of course it’s embarrassing for them,” adds the source.
“They just don’t understand what he [Barnaby] is doing.”
Showing her support for her mother, Bridgette Joyce, who works as a lobbyist, took to Instagram and described her mother as “the most resilient, selfless, loving and strongest chick I know” in a heartfelt post.
“The girls are really close to their mother and always have been,” the pal adds.
“They’re so proud of the way she has handled herself throughout all of this.”
Last year, Natalie, who married the former Nationals leader and deputy prime minister she affectionately called “Barney” in 1993, opened up about her husband after it was revealed that he was expecting a child with his then-mistress and media adviser, Ms Campion.
After staying silent for some time, Nat hoped that by speaking out it would “empower” her daughters.
“I want to give them plenty of reasons to feel proud of at least one parent,” she said in an interview.
“Our girls are the real victims here.”
Barnaby and Vikki welcomed son Sebastian in April 2018.
“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,” Nat added.
They are now expecting another baby boy in June, who they plan to call Tom.