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Barnaby Joyce calls interview with harassment accuser is defamatory and spurious

Barnaby Joyce has branded an candid interview with the woman who accused him of sexual harassment as defamatory and “spurious”.

Former West Australian Rural Woman of the Year Catherine Marriott spoke to the ABC on Tuesday night about her allegations against the Nationals MP.

“I have an absolute clear recollection of everything from that day. I know the person very well. It is defamatory and I will leave it at that,” Mr Joyce told the Nine Network on Wednesday.

Ms Marriott made the complaint confidentially to the National Party in February, but the allegations leaked that month.

“That is one of the most frightening things that you will ever have to live through,” she said.

“When you finally … find the courage within yourself to stand up for what you believe in, and then all control is taken away.”

Mr Joyce has vehemently denied the allegations.

At the time news of Ms Marriott’s complaint leaked, Mr Joyce, who was then the deputy prime minister, was already at the centre of a political storm in Canberra, under pressure following revelations of his affair with his former staffer, Vikki Campion.

The Marriott complaint was one of the triggers for Mr Joyce’s resignation from Cabinet.

An investigation by the NSW branch of the National Party was unable to make a finding due to “insufficient evidence”.

“Obviously there are a lot of things in politics that annoy you. This one is right at the very top,” Mr Joyce said.

Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said Ms Marriott’s interview would help many people.

“I think Catherine Marriott’s interview was absolutely compelling,” Ms Plibersek told reporters on Wednesday.

“She is a gutsy woman and I am full of admiration for the way she spoke up.”

-with AAP

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