Australian deputy PM Joyce denies breaking parliamentary rules

World Tuesday 13/February/2018 17:01 PM
By: Times News Service
Australian deputy PM Joyce denies breaking parliamentary rules

Sydney: Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said on Tuesday that he did not break any parliamentary rules while conducting an affair with a former staffer as he faced down calls for his resignation.
Joyce is expecting a child with his former press secretary Vikki Campion.
Joyce is under immense pressure for failing to declare his relationship with his former staffer when she was given two highly paid positions working for the ruling coalition government.
Australia's ministerial code of conduct requires lawmakers to declare relationships with any staff member of a cabinet minister.
Joyce said he did not break any rules because Campion was not his "partner" at the time.
The scandal could have major repercussions for Australia's centre-right government.
If Joyce does resign from parliament, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will lose his razor-thin one seat majority in parliament.