Barnaby Joyce, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, to Resign in Sex Scandal
Jill Sheppard said that Barnaby Joyce’s resignation shows us
that no matter how much we might romanticize Australian politics — particularly rural politics — the numbers still matter at the end of the day,
22, 2018
MELBOURNE, Australia — Barnaby Joyce, Australia’s deputy prime minister, said on Friday
that he would resign his post after a series of damaging revelations, including an extramarital affair, led to weeks of searing headlines and a change in the rules for how politicians must conduct themselves.
Mr. Joyce said that he would step down on Monday as leader of the National Party and deputy prime minister,
but would continue to serve in Parliament as a member representing his New England constituency.
The scandal, nicknamed #Barnababy by the Australian news media, led Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to introduce
a new code of conduct barring ministers from having sexual relations with their subordinates.
Turnbull said that I thank Barnaby for his service as deputy prime minister
and in his various ministerial roles in which he has been a fierce advocate for rural and regional Australia,
Friday’s news conference came less than 24 hours after the second of those women came forward with allegations that Mr. Joyce had harassed her.