Journalist Alex Cullen has responded to criticism that he wasn’t tough enough in his questioning of Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion.
Channel 7 spent $150,000 to secure the exclusive Sunday Night interview, which promised “brutally honest revelations”.
Bowing to pressure, Channel 7 released previously unseen footage from the tell-all.
“For those who asked” Mr Cullen tweeted alongside a link to a package which contained answers to other questions.
A screen-grab taken from Channel 7's Sunday Night interview with former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce and partner Vikki Campion. Source: Sunday Night
What viewers demanded
Many social media users said Mr Cullen failed to ask the following “important” questions:
- If Joyce knew he would have to step down as deputy, why did he continue to contest a by-election triggered by his dual-citizenship in December 2017?
- When was Malcolm Turnbull told about the pregnancy and affair, and was he aware of it before the by-election?
- Had the couple misused tax-payer funds for travel purposes?
- Did Joyce help his then secret-lover with getting employment with the National Party?
- Was Ms Campion being paid maternity leave?
Ms Campion gave birth to baby Sebastian in April this year. She said she took a pregnancy test in the winter of 2017.
Joyce resigned as Nationals leader and deputy prime minister in February 2018.
On Tuesday he resisted calls for him to retire from politics, instead confirming he will recontest his seat of New England at the next election.
Barnaby Joyce speaks during an interview for Sunday Night. Source: Sunday Night
'Tell-all' falls flat
As the interview aired on Sunday, Twitter lit up with commentary about the “tell-all”.
Former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie offered scathing commentary on the night saying the story “could only be described as crap”.
“There are literally hundreds of journo’s in this country who would have done a better job,” one user tweeted.
“Terrible interview, you didn’t ask the tough questions.” another wrote.
Responding to the flood of criticism the network released “part two” of the story, claiming it contained “exchanges viewers didn’t see”.
Channel Seven reporter Alex Cullen responded to criticism on Twitter. Source: Alex Cullen Twitter
“For those who asked,” Mr Cullen tweeted on Monday.
The footage - presented by Seven News political editor Mark Riley - attempted to address a few of the 'unanswered' questions for viewers.
It showed Ms Campion speaking about nasty slurs, including that had been called “a rent-a-root”.
It also shows video of Mr Joyce denying allegations of misusing taxpayer funds and footage of Ms Campion rejecting allegations that she profited from high-paying jobs created for her.
In a separate tweet, Mr Cullen responded to the criticism of his interview directly.
“I’d like to make it clear that q’s about Joyce’s alleged tax-payer funded travel rorts and claims of sexual misconduct were asked in our @Sundaynighton7 I/V. The response to these q’s was the same as we’ve heard time and time again. Vehemently denied hence nothing new,” he wrote.
- Additional reporting by AAP.
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