Vikki Campion has revealed she was suicidal and suffered severe postpartum depression amid the fallout from her relationship with former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce.
Speaking on the ABC’s Australian Story on Monday, Campion said she felt ‘completely and utterly broken’ in 2018 due to intense public scrutiny.
She admitted feeling ‘suicidal’ and said her mental health took a devastating turn after a press conference by then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, where he criticised Joyce.
‘When Malcolm Turnbull did the press conference, I was suicidal and he had no idea about my side of the story,’ Campion said.
‘I think the only time I was happy over that period was when I had a solid plan to end it all.’
Campion’s comments came as the ABC show revisited the events that led to Joyce’s resignation as Nationals leader and deputy prime minister in 2018, caused by controversy over their relationship and sexual harassment allegations against him.
At the height of the scandal, Joyce faced mounting pressure after claims a woman had made a sexual harassment complaint against him.
‘Of all the things in my career, the one that really gets under my skin is the allegation of some sort of molestation by me because it is not the truth,’ Joyce said.
Vikki Campion (pictured) revealed that she was suicidal during the 2018 scandal with Joyce
Vikki said she was suicidal after a Malcolm Turnbull press conference where he criticised Barnaby, and that he had no idea about her side of the story
An eight-month investigation conducted by the Nationals later concluded with no finding against Joyce.
Campion said the political and media storm left both struggling, while she was also facing the difficulties of new motherhood.
‘I had very bad postpartum depression,’ she said.
‘It was very isolating, I was very alone. I was just so completely and utterly broken.’
To escape media attention, Campion moved to the small New England town of Woolbrook.
‘I was happy to basically move off the grid,’ she said.
‘I was really looking for something which was secluded enough to get away from the chaos.’
Campion (left) opened up about her she suffered from ‘very bad postpartum depression’
The couple now live in the area with their two sons.
Campion said the rural property gave their family the privacy and security they needed away from the spotlight.
Joyce later returned as Nationals leader and deputy prime minister in 2021, saying he wanted to ‘redeem’ himself and prove he could still do the job.
That comeback ended after the Coalition’s 2022 election defeat, with David Littleproud taking over as Nationals leader.
Campion said she accepted the leadership change but believed Joyce was subsequently ‘frozen out’ and ‘ostracised’ within the party.
Joyce also admitted he had contributed to tensions following his demotion.
‘I was getting angry and saying things and doing things I shouldn’t have been doing, so I’m not pure on this one,’ he said.
