Deputy Australian Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce resigns over sex scandal
Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said Friday he will resign
following weeks of controversy after he announced he was expecting a baby with a
former staff member.
Earlier in February, Joyce had admitted to the affair, confirming
long-running rumors, but refused to resign saying it was a private matter.
Then on Thursday, the National Party said it had received a separate, formal complaint
against its leader, accusing him of sexual harassment, Australia's national
broadcaster ABC reported.
Speaking to journalists, he said he was resigning from his role as leader of
the National Party to put aside "this current cacophony of issues" and avoid
further harassment of his family and partner.
"(It has been an) incredible privilege, that I'm so humbled by, to have been
the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia," he said.
Joyce told reporters he had requested the latest allegation against him be
referred to the police. "Over the past half a month there has been a litany of
allegations ... I don't believe any of them have been sustained," he said.
CNN contacted the National Party but didn't receive an immediate response.
The Nationals govern in a coalition agreement with the Liberal Party led by
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Joyce added he would step down as leader of the Nationals on Monday, forcing
a vote to select a new deputy prime minister.
Relationship ban
Joyce revealed in December he had split from his wife in a statement to the
Australian Parliament.
It was Joyce's affair which led Turnbull to announce in February all relationships between
ministers and their staff would be banned in the future.
In a statement Friday, Turnbull, who is away from the country on a visit to
the United States, said Joyce had been a "fierce advocate for rural and regional
Australia."
Joyce has been a controversial figure in the Turnbull Coalition government.
In December he was forced to resign and stand for his seat again at a
by-election after it was revealed he was a dual New Zealand citizen.
Australia's constitution doesn't allow members of parliament to be
dual-citizens of other countries.
In 2016, he made headlines around the world when he threatened to euthanize
US actor Johnny Depp's two dogs, Pistol and Boo, after they were brought into the
country illegally.
Depp later referred to Joyce as looking like he was "inbred with a tomato."
Joyce also said that he will carry on as a member of parliament, moving to
the back bench.
CNN
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