'It didn't happen': Barnaby Joyce denies bum pinching allegation, and apologises to wife
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has denied allegations he pinched a woman's behind at an awards night seven years ago, saying "it did not happen".
The allegation involved the National Party Leader when he was an opposition senator following a 2011 awards ceremony, The Daily Telegraph reports.
"This story has been brought about by a person unnamed, at a venue unnamed, at a time unnamed seven years ago and has been peddled by the bitterest of political enemies to me," Mr Joyce said on Tuesday.
He also took the opportunity to apologise publicly to his wife over his marriage breakdown and relationship with former staffer Vikki Campion, with whom he is expecting a baby.
"I would like to say to Natalie (ex-wife) how deeply sorry I am for all the hurt this has caused, to my girls how deeply sorry I am for all the hurt this has caused them, to Vikki – how sorry I am she has been dragged into this."
The National Party leader said he will consider legal action over the allegations he has denied. In a written statement, Mr Joyce said he had "consulted senior legal advisers and reserve the right to take action for what is serious defamation".
He has also apologised to his supporters and members of his electorate that his personal issues have been made public. He added he believed the allegations did not dignify a response at the time.
Mr Joyce said his relationship with Vikki Campion had no influence on her employment at his office or at that of Queensland Senator Matt Canavan.
"I am very aware of the ministerial code of conduct, it is without a shadow of a doubt that Vikki is my partner now," he said.
"When she worked in my office she was not my partner, when she worked in Matt's (Canavan) office she was not my partner, and Damian Drum was not a minister.
"I think this is vitally important in how we differentiate between the public and the private."
Mr Joyce also took responsibility for the failure of his marriage.
"My marriage was under pressure for some time, Natalie and I tried to make it work again in April last year but it subsequently came to an end," he said.
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John Clements, a former chief adviser to former National Tony Windsor - a long-time rival of Mr Joyce - reportedly sent a number of text messages about the alleged incident to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's principal private secretary on December 30, 2015, Fairfax reports.
It's alleged the deputy PM pinched a woman's bottom after a Rural Women's Award dinner.
Sally Cray, Mr Turnbull's secretary at the time, reportedly responded saying nothing could be done due to a lack of evidence.
The unnamed woman who made the allegation told News Corp she approached Mr Joyce who was "very, very drunk and nearly falling over". She was concerned over his interaction with another woman.
She alleges she told him to go home when he "pinched" her bottom. The other woman, also unidentified, has denied the allegations that any wrongdoing took place.
