Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has taken personal leave, effective immediately, and will not return to Parliament until August.
The extended leave was announced six weeks after the birth of Mr Joyce and his partner Vikki Campion's baby boy, and just before the couple features in a controversial tell-all interview on Channel Seven that will reportedly earn the pair $150,000.
Labor has agreed to "pair" Mr Joyce's vote in the House of Representatives, meaning the former deputy prime minister's absence will not jeopardise the Coalition's slim one-seat majority.
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Nationals frontbencher Darren Chester, who recently said elected MPs should not accept payment for interviews, said he "respected" his former leader for taking leave.
"Obviously he's been under a fair bit of stress in the last six or 12 months, and he's taking some time with his family, so I can understand that," Mr Chester told ABC Radio.
Nationals whip Michelle Landry confirmed Mr Joyce came to her on Tuesday and requested the immediate leave.
"Leave of this nature is routinely approved. We all look forward to the Member for New England re-joining us after his period of leave," she said.
Mr Joyce technically only has leave until the end of June, but Parliament is not scheduled to sit in July so he will not return until August.
Nationals backbencher Andrew Broad said Mr Joyce had been through "a pretty harrowing time".
"If he needs some leave, give him some leave, leave him alone, and hopefully he'll come back and contribute to the direction of the country in his time," he said.
Attorney-General Christian Porter repeated the response from others in the Turnbull cabinet that he personally would not accept money for an interview while serving as an elected member, but would not comment on the decision to take leave.
"I can't possibly make those sort of personal judgements. I'm not a counsellor. It's not for me to say," Mr Porter said.
Channel Seven has already started promoting its 'Sunday Night' interview with Ms Campion and Mr Joyce.
In the clip, Ms Campion defended falling in love with Mr Joyce when she was working as his media adviser.
“I couldn’t help it. You can’t help who you fall in love with,” Ms Campion said.
The couple welcomed their son, Sebastian, in April. The money from the interview will be held in an independent trust fund for Sebastian, Mr Joyce said.
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