Joyce’s affair grips Australia

SYDNEY: An affair between Australia’s married deputy premier and a younger member of his staff, who is now pregnant, gripped the nation yesterday, reigniting questions over MPs’ private lives.

Barnaby Joyce ( pix), best known for threatening to euthanise actor Johnny Depp’s two dogs when they were illegally brought into Australia, appeared on national television to admit his marriage had broken down after Sydney’s Daily Telegraph splashed a picture of his 33-year-old pregnant lover on its frontpage Wednesday.

The decision to publish was widely criticised by politicians who argued for the right to privacy.

The staunchly conservative 50-year-old Joyce – who has campaigned in support of traditional marriage values and has four daughters with his “devastated” wife of 24 years Natalie – insisted his private life should not be discussed in public.

“I don’t think it’s right, I don’t think it would be right for any other politician,” he said, while insisting he had never used public funds to conduct the relationship.

“I think you have to make a distinct decision to not turn Australia into the US.”

Politicians’ private lives are fair game in America, where the House of Representatives on Tuesday voted unanimously to ban sexual relationships between lawmakers and their employees.

The Telegraph’s Sharri Markson, who broke the story, said it was clearly in the public interest.

“I don’t think there are any punters out there who are saying ‘I wish I did not know this story’ this morning,” she said.

Joyce’s wife issued a statement saying her trust had been “shattered” and the situation was “devastating on many fronts” for her and her children. – AFP