Barnaby Joyce breaks silence, confirms name and gender of unborn child

Following Sunday’s reports that former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce and his partner Vikki Campion were expecting their second child together, the politician has broken his silence and even revealed the gender and name of his unborn child.

The pair welcomed their first child, Sebastian Curtis Scott Joyce, last April. Sebastian made his TV debut during an episode of Channel Seven’s Sunday Night last year, earning the family $150,000.

Over the weekend, the Sunday Mail claimed the former leader of the National party and his partner were expecting their second baby in June.

“Another boy is due in June this year,” the source said. “The name is already picked out — Thomas, after Barney’s grandfather.”

The source also claimed that Timothy, the name of Joyce’s brother who sadly died last year, will also be included.

Along with the article, the Sunday Mail also included a photograph Campion with what appeared to be a visible pregnancy bump.

While the MP didn’t confirm the reports at the time, he’s now broken his silence. In footage obtained by 7 News, the 51-year-old confirmed the reports were true at a fundraiser on Sunday afternoon.

“I want to put an apology for Vikki, couldn’t make it up today, but we are actually having another child called Tom. So there you go,” he said.

Read more: Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion ‘expecting second son’ together

Joyce already shares four children with his ex-wife Natalie. He revealed in late 2017 that he separated from his wife of more than two decades and later confirmed he had been conducting a lengthy affair with Campion, who was by then pregnant with their son.

Joyce’s relationship with his former adviser made headlines when the Daily Telegraph published a picture of a pregnant Campion and claimed the pair were living together and expecting a baby. Reports at the time hinted heavily that Joyce and Campion’s relationship started as far back as April 2017, while he was still married to Natalie. She also released a statement at the time confirming she knew the pair had been a couple for “many months”, including while Campion was the Nationals leader’s employee.

Prime minister Scott Morrison has congratulated Joyce and Campion on their baby news, as has opposition leader Bill Shorten.

“That’s entirely a personal matter for them and I congratulate them. Whenever a child is to be born it is good news,” Shorten said.

Read more: Barnaby Joyce issues grovelling apology to family AND girlfriend

Are you a fan of Barnaby Joyce? Are you excited for the arrival of the new baby?