Joyce feels the pinch as explosive allegations surface
NATIONAL Party Leader Barnaby Joyce has been accused of pinching a woman on the bottom while drunk at a pub – an allegation investigated “off the record” by the Prime Minister’s office according to confidential texts.
The explosive allegation – denied by Mr Joyce – was raised with Malcolm Turnbull’s principal private secretary Sally Cray in December 2015, who said nothing could be done because no complaint had been made and there was no evidence that Mr Joyce had engaged in any wrongdoing.
Mr Joyce is alleged to have pinched the woman on the bottom after she confronted him over his interaction with another woman, then told the affronted victim: “I can look after you too.”
The alleged incident happened in 2011 at a Canberra pub after an awards dinner.
The revelation came as angry Liberal MPs lose patience with Mr Joyce and ramp up pressure on Nationals colleagues to dump him before he becomes acting prime minister next week. Mr Turnbull confirmed yesterday that Mr Joyce would run the country while he travels to the US to meet President Donald Trump.
But the Bulletin understands a growing group of Liberals are fed up with the Deputy PM after it was revealed he is expecting a baby with his former media adviser Vikki Campion.