//So my question is why has the standard on privacy suddenly changed?//

Probably because Barnaby was making such a big song and dance about the sanctity of marriage quite recently.

Silly thing to do really: since he knew that he was cheating on his wife and it would only be a matter of time before all the sordid details emerged, it would have been a strategically sound decision not to keep banging on out about the sanctity of marriage. Because now that the cat is out of the bag, he's left looking like a massive hypocrite. And I think it's the hypocrisy that gets up peoples noses a lot more than the adultery.

Come on people.

We have had 2 Labor prime ministers recently who had affairs. Hawke & Gillard. In Gillard's case at least one was with a married man.

We had a Labor minister having an affair with the leader of the Democrats. People who spend a lot of time far from home, & in close proximity with some members of the opposite sex are in a position where such behaviour is more likely.

No, politicians have no right to any special privacy, but we are a sexual species, it is going to happen, & it is time those pretending to be goody goody two shoes, gave up the fake outrage.

Anyone who has never seen at least one member of the opposite sex & thought they wouldn't mind a night with that one, is either prepubescent, or a homosexual. Give it a rest.

This case is a bit different.

And here's why - if a gay teacher, or carer, or a nurse's
private life is relevant to their employment - why
shouldn't the private life of the second most powerful
man in the country not be up for debate? Especially when he
represents himself as living by values that he seeks to impose
on others.

Personally I don't think that photos of Barnaby's new partner,
Vicky Campion, should be published. Nor do I particularly care
what people do in their private lives. However, Barnaby
can't defend the
sanctity of marriage whilst cheating on his wife with a staffer.
And more to the point - expect to not be questioned.

On a lighter note...

Here's a poem for Barnaby:

"I blow my pipes,
The glad birds sing,
The fat young nymphs about me spring.
The sweaty centaur leaps the trees
And bites his dryad's splendid knees.

The sky, the water, and the earth
Repeat aloud our noisy mirth
Anon, tight-bellied bacchanals
With ivy from the vineyard walls
Lead out and crown with shinning glass
The wine's red baby on the grass.

I blow my pipes,
The glad birds sing
The fat young nymphs about me spring
I am the lord, I am the lord, I am the lord
Of everything."

(Hugh McCrae).

Foxy,

What do you make of Shorten's infidelity?

Dear Shadow Minister,

Not much.