The questions Barnaby Joyce faces

Barnaby Joyce has survived attempts to force him out of parliament, but he is still under pressure after Labor says he breached ministerial standards.

The timeline

- Media adviser Vikki Campion begins working in Barnaby Joyce's office in August 2016.

- She shifts to Matt Canavan's office in April 2017.

- Campion returns to Joyce's office for several weeks when Canavan is forced to step down in July.

- Campion moves to Nationals whip Damian Drum's office in August 2017, before going on stress leave.

- Joyce reveals in parliament in December he is separated from his wife of 24 years, Natalie.

- Campion is due to give birth to Joyce's child in April.

The questions

Jobs:

- The ministerial code of conduct says frontbenchers cannot employ close relatives or partners or get them work in other ministerial offices "without the prime minister's express approval".

- Joyce says Campion was not his "partner" when she worked in his or Canavan's ministerial offices.

- They were partners when she moved to Drum's office, but Drum was not a minister.

- Campion provided media advice to Joyce, despite her working in other offices.

Travel:

- Labor wants to see details of the taxpayer-funded flights Joyce and Campion took in 2017 to ensure there was no breach of the rules.

Accommodation:

- Joyce and Campion live rent-free in an Armidale town house.

- Joyce says businessman Greg Maguire called him and offered a place to stay rent-free, while media reports suggest Joyce made first contact.

- Ministerial standards say ministers "must not seek or encourage any form of gift in their personal capacity".

- Joyce says the townhouse was provided when he was not an MP or minister.

Function:

- Joyce's department spent $5000 on meals and drinks for a March 2016 function he attended at Maguire's Quality Hotel Powerhouse in Armidale.

- Joyce was unaware of the payment.

- His office said the money was spent in line with departmental procurement guide lines.

The fallout

- Joyce will go on leave from February 19 to 25 and will not be acting prime minister next week when Malcolm Turnbull is away.

- Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Joyce must consider his position.

- Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie has "rolled gold" guaranteed Joyce will see out the week as leader.

- Labor leader Bill Shorten says Joyce's position is untenable, especially over the townhouse.


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3 min read
Published 15 February 2018 8:36pm
Updated 15 February 2018 8:47pm
Source: AAP


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