Yesterday, the nation learnt Former Deputy Prime Minster Barnaby Joyce and his partner Vikki Campion had shook on an exclusive interview deal with Channel 7’s Sunday Night worth a marvellous $150,000.
Naturally, this copped a lot of criticism because:
- His first exclusive print interview with Faixfax media included a plea to the public to please let his private life be private… so this is a bit of a laugh.
- $150,000 is a shit ton of money for a news organisation to actually offer and pay an interviewee. Channel 9’s 60 Minutes had also been in the bidding war for the deal but lost out to Channel 7.
- Joyce is currently sitting on the backbench, a job that comes with an attractive pay from taxpayers .
- Channel 7, what are you doing?
Quick recap:
Joyce made headlines earlier this year when we learnt he was having an affair with his former media advisor, Campion. For this alone, Joyce copped it big time and sympathy was felt for his wife, Natalie Joyce. Then, we learnt Campion was pregnant with their child and was due in two months and sympathies were sent to Joyce’s four daughters.
Channel 7 has yet to shed details on the interview but it is being reported six-week-old Sebastian Joyce will feature.
This is all quite strange because Australia thought the saga finally came to an end after Joyce resigned from his duties as Deputy PM and Nationals leader and Campion gave birth to little Sebastian. We learnt the usual details about the baby and that was that. Move on.
So, with Joyce reaching back out to the media and public again despite his plea for privacy – well, the country’s absolutely fuming.
And they’re not holding back.
privacy please…@FinancialReview #auspol #BarnabyJoyce @Channel7 pic.twitter.com/eD0J39dVxx
— david rowe (@roweafr) May 27, 2018
That must’ve been fun to draw.
*Barnaby’s phone rings*
“Hello?
…
Sorry, I ask that you respect our privacy.
…
How much?
…
I’ll grab my hat.”— Tom Gleeson (@nonstoptom) May 26, 2018
So, let me get this straight. Barnaby Joyce was rewarded with a $150k media interview after cheating on his wife with his ex-staffer? So, he’s profiting from a scandal of his causing while also earning a massive salary as an MP? This is so far from acceptable, I have no words.
— Victoria Fielding (@DrVicFielding) May 26, 2018
Barnaby Joyce just wants his privacy and to be left alone with Channel Seven and their money.
— Dave Donovan (@davrosz) May 26, 2018
“And so it’s a private matter and I don’t think it helps me. I don’t think it helps my family. I don’t think it helps anybody in the future to start making this part of a sort of a public discussion. So, as much as I can, I will keep private matters private”
Barnaby Joyce 7/2/18
— Simon Banks (@SimonBanksHB) May 26, 2018
So Barnaby Joyce’s salary dropped from $400,000 to $200,000.
And to compensate he gets $150,000 for an interview.
This is blatant cronyism and corruption.#auspol— LubiePhil (@lubiephil) May 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/JohnSmith88897/status/1000413203048759296
How in the actual fuck is it legal that a politician requests money for an interview? Barnaby Joyce is everything wrong with politics in this country. #auspol
— James Pinnell | thejunket.substack.com (@JamesPinnell) May 27, 2018
Australian journalists have also questioned Channel 7 for the pay cheque, many uncomfortable with the idea:
https://twitter.com/hamishNews/status/1000185779585409025
According to Newscorp, insider sources have said the money is to go into a trust for Sebastian so the lad will never have to learn what HECS is.
https://twitter.com/sleemol/status/1000535407111557120
That one’s gotta sting.
Lisa Wilkinson wrote a column for Ten Daily to share her thoughts on the matter and absolutely drags the beetroot out of Joyce. I expect the man will receive a fine roasting on The Project tonight.
Dear #BarnabyJoyce, bring it in tight…I’ve got just a little bit of advice for you before you go ahead on that whole selling your kid and your private life for money thing. My latest column for @tendailyau https://t.co/yeXdY5nB7h #auspol
— Lisa Wilkinson (@Lisa_Wilkinson) May 27, 2018
If he’s lucky, Barnaby might just get his own Aussie biopic.
