Barnaby Joyce has been testing the boundaries of public interest and privacy the past six months.
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The former deputy prime minister had a fall from grace when it was revealed, on the front page of a newspaper, that he was in a relationship with an ex-staffer.
The woman was pregnant and baby assumed to be his.
The news came weeks after Mr Joyce was forced to resign and campaign for his seat in New England following the dual citizenship saga.
He didn’t only win his seat, on December 2, but did so convincingly. With a 12.63 per cent swing and he secured 64 per cent of the vote.
Two months later the bubble burst with the news Mr Joyce’s marriage was over, he had an affair and he was now expecting a child.
Following the front page splash many people started to comment whether or not Mr Joyce’s private life was of public interest.
Mr Joyce was quick to say it wasn’t.
“I’ll say that private matters remain private and I’m gonna keep my private life private,” he told ABC in an interview.
About a month later, after he had resigned as deputy PM and relegated to the backbench, Mr Joyce told Fairfax that the baby may not be his.
Two days later that news was “no one’s business”.
In April the baby boy was born. A day after the birth Mr Joyce said the child was his.
The past week the drama continued.
Mr Joyce and his partner Vikki Campion are reportedly selling their story for $150,000 to Channel Seven.
Public backlash ensued, and now the politician will take 11 weeks of personal leave.
It’s a story line that any Hollywood writer would promote with pride.
Mr Joyce has made, what he viewed as private, issue of public interest.
He did himself no favours.
However, should the story ever have been revealed?
The answer is yes.
Mr Joyce was the deputy prime minister. That is a position of authority and prestige.
Substitute other names into the scenario (Malcolm Turnbull or Donald Trump) and you would expect that news to be shared.
Politicians are paid with the public purse. They are representatives of us.
While it can make you feel a little squeamish, it has also revealed an interesting side of Mr Joyce that the public should know.
