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Who Is Barnaby Joyce?
Barnaby Joyce was the leader of the Australian National Party and served as the country’s Deputy Prime Minister from February 2016 to February 2018. He also previously served as the leader of the National Party’s Senate, the Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, and the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.
However, in 2018, following a scandalous affair, subsequent separation from his wife of 24 years, and a sexual harassment allegation, Joyce resigned from his position as the leader of the National Party and as Deputy Prime Minister to move to the backbench.
Who Is Natalie Joyce?
Natalie Joyce (maiden name Natalie Abberfield) was a teacher, but she was most famous for being the wife of former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. However, that all changed in 2017, when Joyce announced during a parliamentary debate that he was officially separated from his wife.
Since then, Nat has had what was probably the roughest two years of her life, dealing with her husband’s infidelity, the crumbling of her marriage, and the public scandal that followed.
The Barnaby & Natalie Relationship Timeline
When Did They Meet?
Barnaby Joyce met Natalie Abberfield in the mid-to-late ‘80s at the University of New England (UNE), where Joyce was working towards his Bachelor of Financial Administration.
When Did Barnaby Joyce & Natalie Get Married?
The pair continued to date as Joyce moved around New South Wales and Queensland doing odd jobs, including a stint as an accountant. Joyce and Abberfield tied the knot in 1993, three years before Barnaby entered the Australian Army Reserve.
Did Barnaby And Natalie Have Any Children Together?
Barnaby and Natalie didn’t take long to start a family. They have four daughters together, ranging in age from teenager to adult – Bridgette Joyce, Julia Joyce, Caroline Joyce, and Odette Joyce.
The girls have been an incredible support system for Natalie after the separation. “They’re very proud of me – watching as I rediscovered my confidence and enjoying how empowered I’ve become,” the mum-of-four shares. While Barnaby seems estranged from his daughters (or at least, they disagree politically), his daughters continue to proudly share family photos with their mum on Instagram.
Is Barnaby Joyce Still Married?
Although Barnaby announced his separation in December 2017, it seems like the divorce has yet to be finalised. In 2018, it was announced that Joyce was selling some of his farm land in northern NSW, a 1015ha property in Gwabegar, for $AUD 878,000 to help fund his divorce.
Who Did Barnaby Joyce Have An Affair With?
Barnaby Joyce shocked the nation when he left his wife of almost 25 years for Vikki Campion, a young, 30-something woman who used to work for him as a communications staffer.
According to a timeline of Campion and Joyce’s relationship, the two started working together in 2016 and became friends soon after. Natalie discovered the relationship in 2017, and despite attempts to fix their marriage, called it quits within a few months.
In December 2017, Barnaby announced his separation during a debate on same-sex marriage in parliament. A couple of months later, Joyce confirmed his relationship with Campion. The couple welcomed their first child together in April 2018.
What Is Natalie Joyce Up To Now?
Although most women would understandably be a wreck after such a high-profile separation, Natalie Joyce didn’t allow her failed marriage to ruin the rest of her life.
In April, just 16 months after her separation from Joyce was announced, Natalie debuted her bangin’ new body. The 49-year-old apparently hit the gym after the breakup and is now a competitive bodybuilder. In her first competition, Natalie bagged fourth place medals at the I Compete Natural (ICN) North Coast Classic, in the ‘First Timers’ and ‘Miss Fitness Model Momma’ categories.
The Latest News About Barnaby Joyce
Although Joyce has stepped down from his ministerial duties, he’s still quite active in politics as one of the National Party’s backbenchers. He appeared at an anti-abortion rally in Sydney to fight the decriminalisation of the health procedure. His 15-year-old daughter Odette slammed his views on an Instagram story, saying “and once again, I don’t support you.”
Barnaby continues to live with his partner Vikki Campion in the Armidale area. After the birth of their first son Sebastian, the couple sold the exclusive rights to their story to Channel 7, a move which angered Natalie and her daughters. Campion and Joyce welcomed a second child into their family in June 2019, a son named Thomas.
Conclusion
Separating from your spouse is messy, even more so if you’re in the public eye. Barnaby Joyce’s affair and separation ruined his political career, but his ex-wife Natalie bounced back, hit the gym, and became a professional bodybuilder – proving that a chaotic divorce doesn’t have to hold you back from reaching your potential.
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