Former deputy prime minister and Nationals backbencher Barnaby Joyce will continue to be paid while he is on leave for four weeks, amid the ongoing scandal surrounding the decision to accept a $150,000 payment for a TV interview about his affair and child with former staffer Vikki Campion.
A spokesperson for the Department of the House of Representatives, which is responsible for salaries paid to MPs, indicated payments would continue because leave was a matter for the party.
"Members of the House of Representatives are paid a fixed annual allowance, in monthly installments, as determined by the Remuneration Tribunal," the spokesperson said. "It is a matter for an individual member to agree to appropriate arrangements in relation to leave with the relevant party, if that applies."
The base salary for MPs is almost $200,000.
It was reported last night that Joyce had been given leave by prime minister Malcolm Turnbull until the end of June, and Labor had granted Joyce a pair, meaning that the government will keep its numbers in the House of Representatives (although Labor is currently missing four MPs, with by-elections to be held at the end of July).
Joyce had been criticised by Coalition colleagues in recent days for agreeing to a $150,000 payment, to be placed in a trust fund for he and Campion's newborn son Sebastian, in exchange for an interview with the Seven Network to air this Sunday.
Financial services minister Kelly O'Dwyer said on Tuesday that most Australians would be "pretty disgusted" by the money taken for the interview, but Joyce said it was Campion's idea and a move to get the media attention off the couple and their son once and for all.
But the revelation of the payment appears to have had the opposite effect.
A promo for the interview was aired by Sky News host Paul Murray on Tuesday night.
VIDEO: First PROMO for Barnaby Joyce & Vikki Campion chat with Ch7 on Sunday Night. More NOW #pmlive @SkyNewsAust
Joyce also called for privacy regulations to be implemented to give him greater protection from media intrusions. On Wednesday, attorney-general Christian Porter told ABC's AM program that this was not a "primary focus" for the government.
This will be the second leave of absence Joyce has taken in the six months since he was re-elected to parliament in December, after he was declared ineligible last year due to being a dual national.
Joyce tweeted on Wednesday afternoon that he had a medical certificate and said the leave would just be until mid-June.
Contrary to reports, I’m taking leave until June 15 following a routine check up. The medical certificate provided allowed for a month. 1/2
This contradicted a statement from Nationals' whip Michelle Landry that Joyce had been granted leave until the end of June.