Australian deputy PM denies breaking parliamentary rules over affair

Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said today that he did not break any parliamentary rules while conducting an extramarital affair with a former staffer as he faced down calls for his resignation, reports Reuters.

Joyce, a practicing Catholic who has campaigned on “family values” and has been married for 24 years, 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.