In an exclusive interview with 60 Minutes' Liz Hayes, Malcolm Turnbull says he's tired of the 'boys' club' in parliament

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has demanded women be treated with more respect not only in the workplace, but in all parts of our lives.

In an exclusive interview with 60 Minutes reporter Liz Hayes, which will air in full 8.40pm tonight on Channel 9, Mr Turnbull admits his frustration with the ‘boys' club’ in parliament.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is tired of the 'boys' club' in parliament. (Image: 60 Minutes) (60 Minutes)

He declares he has “drawn a line in sand and time,” with the changes to ministerial code of conduct.

Hayes has spent the last month filming with the Prime Minister.

Reporter Liz Hayes has spent a month with exclusive access to the Prime Minister. (Image: 60 Minutes) (60 Minutes)

Granted exclusive, unprecedented access, Hayes travelled the country with Mr Turnbull and sat down for an intimate interview at home with his wife Lucy.

And the 60 Minutes cameras continued filming in what has been a momentous week for Australian politics, where the Prime Minister was forced to confront controversy caused by the personal life of his deputy minister, Barnaby Joyce.

Hayes spent time with Turnbull and wife Lucy in their home. (Image: 60 Minutes) (60 Minutes)

On Thursday, Turnbull described Joyce’s affair with former staffer, Vikki Campion as a “shocking error of judgement.”

He went on to publicly announce a change to the ministerial code of conduct which now declares Ministers are banned from having sexual relationships with fellow staffers.

LISTEN: How we can work together to end a culture of toxic masculinity, on this episode of 9Honey's hit podcast Life Bites. (Post continues.)

On Friday, Barnaby Joyce hit back, accusing Turnbull of being “inept and unnecessary” in his comments.

So on Saturday, when Turnbull sat down for the final interview in his four weeks spent with Hayes, there was certainly a lot to discuss.

On Turnbull’s relationship with Joyce, Hayes frankly asks, “if you could have, would you have sacked him?”

In their final interview, Hayes asked Turnbull directly about the ongoing controversy surrounding Barnaby Joyce. (Image: 60 Minutes) (60 Minutes)

Mr Turnbull reiterated his disappointment the political crisis that has engulfed his deputy and in turn all of Canberra.

“I don’t care if the ministers are married or whether they are single. The minister can be the most eligible bachelor or young woman in the country and be absolutely free in terms of who they can have relations with – but if they’re a minister in my government they cannot have sexual relations with their staff."

READ MORE: All the ways Malcolm Turnbull can enforce his ministerial sex ban

The Prime Minister admits that the Joyce controversy is a cruel contrast to that of his own private life, telling Hayes he is blessed in his marriage with Lucy – who he turned to for advice before making the momentous decision to ban sex between his ministers and staff.

"Yes Lucy and I talked about this, this is one of those classic issues where it’s good to take counsel from your wife, life partner,” he tells Hayes.

Asked what Lucy thought of his decision to impose a sex ban, Mr Turnbull says: "Lucy absolutely agrees, and – who would disagree?”

It’s this relationship and regard for Lucy that has helped Mr Turnbull through some of his toughest political challenges.

While filming with the Prime Minister, it quickly became clear that anything he faces, they face together.

The Turnbulls have faced the challenges of the Prime Ministership together as a team. (Image: 60 Minutes) (60 Minutes)

For Mrs Turnbull, one of the great challenges is watching husband come under fire from his political foes.

"Liz, in politics, everybody doesn't love you. That's part of the deal,” Mrs Turnbull tells Hayes.

"But you actually do feel it when somebody's under direct attack that you love, and you know that what is being said is completely untrue. Yes, you do feel it. There's no doubt about that."

The Prime Minister candidly responds to all the questions Australia wants answered, providing a remarkable insight into why the he is so disappointed with his deputy.

‘I love Lucy’ airs this Sunday, 8.40pm on Channel 9. For more on 60 Minutes, visit 9Now.

Related:

Barnaby Joyce quits as Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.

Malcolm Turnbull wins leadership spill