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News Corp outlets have alleged deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce is expecting a child with a former staffer.

The former media adviser and Daily Telegraph journalist is reportedly due to give birth in April. The Daily Telegraph’s front page story, “Bundle of Joyce”, included full-page photos of the staffer, and noted that Joyce has refused to comment. Joyce admitted he was separated from his wife, Natalie, during a speech to parliament in December, saying during a debate on same-sex marriage that he “didn’t come to this debate pretending to be a saint”.

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The Saturday Paper