Barnaby Joyce's partner gives birth

Barnaby Joyce’s partner Vikki Campion has given birth to a baby boy, just two months after the relationship scandal saw the former deputy prime minister step down as leader of the Nationals party.

The baby was born on Monday at Armidale Public Hospital and has been called Sebastian.

He weighed in at 8lbs, 7oz.

When News Corp broke the news of Joyce’s affair with a staffer, and Campion’s pregnancy, in February it was the beginning of a tumultuous few weeks for the politician which culminated in his resignation as party leader.

Despite leaving his wife for Campion, Joyce had cast doubt if the baby is his, telling Fairfax Media the identity of the biological father was “a grey area”.

On February 21, Joyce and Campion broke their silence to the media, giving an exclusive interview to Fairfax Media.

They claimed they wanted to debunk a perception they were living rent-free in a "palace" of an apartment provided by a millionaire friend.

Joyce described the accommodation, in which he is living rent free with Campion for six months, as a "bachelor's pad".

Campion refused to be photographed during the interview and made only one on-the-record comment - that her son's middle names would be in honour of her two brothers.

"Their support has meant so much. They are the only people who knew," the former journalist and media advisor said.

Mr Joyce criticised the handling of the story by Campion's former employer, News Corp, which splashed her image over front pages.

He said the line of questioning about the relationship had gone from "inquiry to malice".

"The tide will turn because people will get bored of it.

"This should be a very simply story - a bloke whose marriage broke down is in a relationship with another person and they are having a child.

"Now it seems to have gone into some sort of morality discussion. That's between me and my God."

Campion also debunked rumours she was paid up to $190,000 while working for National Party members. Instead, she produced pay slips indicating she earned between $133,000 and $138,000.