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Agence France-Presse

Australia’s prime minister imposed a formal ban on sex between ministers and their staff on Thursday after his deputy made “a shocking error of judgement” by having an affair that left an aide pregnant and the government reeling.
Malcolm Turnbull announced the amendment to the ministerial code of conduct at an extraordinary press conference during which he slammed deputy Barnaby Joyce for causing “terrible hurt and humiliation” to his wife and four children.
“Barnaby made a shocking error of judgement in having an affair with a young woman working in his office,” he said.
“In doing so, he has set off a world of woe for those women and appalled all of us.
“Our hearts go out to them. It has been a dreadful thing for them to go through in the glare of publicity.”
Joyce, 50, has been under immense pressure since his affair with former media advisory Vikki Campion, 33, who is now pregnant with their child, became public last week.
It has led to allegations that he breached ministerial rules, with the crisis dominating the front pages and parliament question time, with calls mounting for him to resign.
Joyce, whose National Party is in a coalition with the prime minister’s Liberals, will take leave next week, allowing him to side-step the role of acting leader while Turnbull is on a visit to the United States.
Turnbull departs for Washington next Wednesday for meetings with US President Donald Trump and is scheduled to be overseas for four days.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, as deputy Liberal leader, would normally step in if Joyce was unavailable. But she will also be travelling, which means Senate leader Mathias Cormann will take the position.
Turnbull said the break would allow Joyce to “consider his own position”.
The prime minister could sack him, but that risks fracturing the ruling coalition and could cause a rift between the Liberal and National parties.
Joyce admitted to the affair after a picture of his pregnant lover was splashed across the front page of the Sydney Daily Telegraph, and has publicly apologised to his shattered wife of 24 years Natalie and their daughters.
Turnbull said times had changed and people expected politicians to set an example.
“I am not here to moralise. But we must recognise that whatever may have been acceptable or to which a blind eye was turned in the past, today, in 2018, it is not acceptable for a minister to have a sexual relationship with somebody who works for them,” he said.
Barnaby made a shocking error of judgement in having an affair with a young woman working in his office
Malcolm Turnbull
“It is a very bad workplace practice. And everybody knows that no good comes of it.”
As such, he amended the code of conduct to make unequivocally clear that “ministers, regardless of whether they are married or single, must not engage in sexual relations with staff”.
Joyce - best known internationally for threatening to euthanise Hollywood star Johnny Depp’s dogs over a quarantine violation - denies he breached any rules, which could be grounds for him to be removed from office.
He has defended the two jobs, one for a minister, that Campion was given after she stopped working for him last year.
The code stipulates that “partners” of ministers cannot be given jobs in ministerial offices without the express approval of the prime minister.
Joyce is also under fire over revelations that he accepted a rent-free apartment from a millionaire friend after his marriage collapsed.
Labor accused him of breaching ministerial standards by asking for a place to live, and in effect receiving a gift of not paying rent for six months. Joyce insists it was offered and he did not ask for it.
Joyce was re-elected in his rural constituency in New South Wales late last year after being forced to stand down over a once-obscure rule barring dual citizens from federal office.
He campaigned on a platform of being a pillar of the community who upheld conservative values, including marriage.


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Australian politics

Australia bans sex between government ministers and staff as scandal with deputy PM Barnaby Joyce and pregnant ex-aide deepens

Australia's Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce has admitted to an affair with 33-year-old former staff member Vikki Campion, who used to work in his office, leaving his shattered wife of 24 years and their four daughters. Photo: Facebook

FILE PHOTO: Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce reacts as he sits in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, October 25, 2017. AAP/Mick Tsikas/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. AUSTRALIA OUT. NEW ZEALAND OUT.

Australia’s Deputy PM renounces New Zealand citizenship amid claims of plot to topple government

If  Barnaby Joyce was disqualified, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s centre-right government could lose its single-seat majority in the House of Representatives, where parties need a majority to govern

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (top) reacts during House of Representatives Question Time alongside Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia August 14, 2017. AAP/Lukas Coch via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. AUSTRALIA OUT. NEW ZEALAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. Photo: EPA

Pressure mounts on Australia’s deputy PM over affair

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. Photo: Reuters

(FILES) This file photo taken on July 5, 2016 shows Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce addressing a press conference in Sydney. Pressure was mounting on Australia's deputy prime minister on February 13, 2018 amid fresh allegations that his affair with a younger former staffer, who is pregnant with their child, breached ministerial rules. / AFP PHOTO / William WEST

War on Terrier: Australia threatens to put down US actor Johnny Depp’s dogs following quarantine breach

Johnny Depp with one of his two dogs.Photo: SCMP Pictures

Australian deputy PM Barnaby Joyce facing pressure from own Nationals party to resign over affair

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce in the House of Representatives at Parliament House, Canberra. Photo: Reuters

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Asia

Australasia

Barnaby Joyce, a Catholic who campaigned on ‘family values’ and been married for 24 years, is expecting a child with his former press secretary


Australia