Following news of Barbaby Joyce's marriage failure and impending fatherhood, the community has had mixed opinions about whether it is any of the nations business.
Residents took to a discussion on the Great Lakes Advocate Facebook page to share their opinions, debating whether reports of the news are an invasion of privacy or matter of public interest.
Mel Montgomerie suggested that public opinions on personal affairs are the price of fame.
“Pretty sure they didn't care about throwing Julia Gillard’s personal business around,” she commented.
“They don't seem to have a problem putting pics of the royals and their gf's on the front page. No difference. If it was a movie star having an affair it would be all over the news too.”
Pam Duck commented that Joyce’s hypocrisy opened a can of worms.
“He shows no moral or ethical fibre,” she said.
“Yes it should be discussed especially when it spouts family values as a core principle.
“He didn't care about his wife and daughters then, he doesn't care for them now. He didn't care if they were humiliated then, he doesn't care now. Actually Barnaby playing the victim is sickening.”
“Tell me, if this was you in the same situation would you want it aired out in public, I'm gunna say probably not so you need to be the one to stop being the hypocrite, unless you are going to walk in his shoes,” Michael Johnson responded.
Pam replied, saying of course she had been spouting Christian family values to all and sundry.
“Trying to force a conservative doctrine on the whole country, yes me too,” she said.
“Decrying a woman prime minister because it suited my vile conservative agenda, definitely me. Not my hypocrisy sunshine now try again little boy.”
“So you’re saying you would like your private life out in the spotlight?” Michael Johnson asked.
“If you do the wrong thing you deserve to have it plastered in the front page!!!!!” Mel Montgomerie said.
“He's meant to be a role model and setting an example. What example is he setting?”
“This information is none of our business,” Michael Johnson responded.
“I'm pretty sure each and everyone of us wouldn't want information of what we do on a daily basis out for the general public to read.
“And for all the people who are saying terrible things about this man and what he has done and shaming him for it, even though when all this happened was after he had separated from his ex-wife.
“Yes I know that being a political person you are somewhat in the public eye, but those matters are for what is going on in our national politics not because of their personal lives.
“The only reason this has been aired is because the media will run with any story that's going to cause some form of controversy.”
“Pretty sure Julia Gillard was dragged through the mud!!” Mel Montgomerie replied.
“If he didn't want it aired he never should have cheated. That's that. He should have gotten a device before diving into bed with someone his daughters age and knocking her up. Pity it didn't come out earlier aye!”
Bev Maybury said that perhaps we haven't learnt from the Gillard issue.
“I would have hoped that we don't go on repeating these mistakes,” she said.
“I still think it's none of our business - no-one ever knows what goes on in a marriage/relationship except the two partners.”
Trevor Carroll suggested that now the cat is out of the bag with Joyce, the rest of the hypocrites should be dragged out.
“Don't you wonder why all the other politicians are so tight lipped about BJ and his faux pas,” he asked.
“If we were to take a look at many of the politicians that wander our corridors or power we would find that they have walked down that same path.”
Sandii Chan said Joyce was a cheating creep.
“He was prepared to pass judgement on many peoples relationships - why is he now a protected species?”
“His marriage failure has no reflection on his political career!” Lynda Alderton Donaldson commented, but Mel Montgomerie disagreed.
“It exactly does actually. How can he care about his electorate when he doesn't obviously care about his kids?” she asked.
“Who said he doesn’t care for his children?” Lynda Alderton Donaldson asked.
“Anyone who cares for their kids would have broken off their marriage and not have an affair another baby and flaunt it front page!!! It's called having morals. Poor kids,” Mel Montgomerie replied.
