Barnaby Joyce says marriage break down his ‘great failure’

The staffer is Mr Joyce’s former media adviser Vikki Campion, 33. The couple have reportedly moved in together, and their baby is reported to be due in April.

On Wednesday night, Mr Joyce dodged questions during an interview on the ABC’s 7.30 Report about whether Ms Campion was working for him when they started their relationship, however he maintained no public money had been used to fund it.

“This issues have been FIO’d, that's Freedom of Information request, from just about every media outlet for a very long period of time,” Mr Joyce said.

“Nothing has been found, because there is nothing there. We have made sure private matters remain private and anything on the public account has been to do with my work as a politician.

“Once we start going through this salami slicing of private life, then where does it end? So I’m not going to have a discussion about my private life in the public arena.

During the debate on same-sex marriage legislation, which he opposed and abstained from voting on, Mr Joyce said he supported traditional marriage, even though they often break down.

Critics on social media have taken aim at Mr Joyce’s opposition to same-sex marriage, due to his belief in traditional marriage.

“Just because my marriage didn’t work out, doesn’t mean I disregard what marriages are about,” Mr Joyce said.

“As I say, I failed. I’m upfront, I failed on that one. But I’m not going to say just because I failed, I’m going to completely change my views.”