As Barnaby Joyce's political colleagues and opponents defend his right to privacy, his wife has released a statement expressing her family's devastation on receiving news about his new relationship.

Key points: Daily Telegraph published photo of Deputy PM's new partner, who is pregnant

Daily Telegraph published photo of Deputy PM's new partner, who is pregnant Natalie Joyce released statement expressing family's "devastation" at the news

Natalie Joyce released statement expressing family's "devastation" at the news Adam Bandt, Chris Bowen, Darren Chester all defend right to privacy

The Daily Telegraph published an article today with a photo of the Deputy Prime Minister's new partner, his former press secretary, who is pregnant.

Last month, Mr Joyce confirmed in Parliament that he had separated from his wife, but he made no other public comments about his new relationship.

"Private lives are just that: private," Mr Joyce's spokesperson told the ABC today.

His wife Natalie Joyce later released a statement to The Australian, saying she was "deeply saddened" by the news and that the situation was "devastating" for the couple's four daughters.

"The situation for myself and the girls will be made worse by the fact that this will all be played out in public," The Australian reported Mrs Joyce as saying.

"So at this time, I would ask that the girls and I are given some privacy and time to come to terms with the consequences and take steps to plan our future."

Meanwhile, Greens MP Adam Bandt this morning raised concerns about The Daily Telegraph's decision to splash the picture on its front page.

"I think this is a very dark day when women can be paparazzi snapped and spread all over the national media when they are pregnant, for no other reason than who their partner happens to be," Mr Bandt told Sky News.

"Unless it impacts on how [he] does his job or unless she chooses voluntarily to step into the public eye, it is not really anyone's business.

"I don't think it is right and if it is Barnaby Joyce's partner today, who else's will it be tomorrow?"

Mr Bandt suggested there could be a #MeToo-style campaign against the tabloids for dragging women into the public eye when they had done nothing more than have a partner who is a politician.

Telegraph journalist says story was in the public interest

On Channel Seven's Sunrise program, Daily Telegraph journalist Sharri Markson defended running the story, saying the end of Mr Joyce's marriage had affected his approach to his work.

"It is such a traumatic thing, ending a marriage," she said.

Markson argued it was in the public interest.

"I don't think there are any punters out there who are saying, 'I wish I did not know this story' this morning," she said.

"[They are not thinking] 'I wish the Daily Telegraph had suppressed the information that the Deputy Prime Minister had left his wife and four daughters for his former staff member nearly 20 years his junior'."

She said journalists who missed the story or did not publish it were the same ones now arguing it was not in the public interest.

Labor, Nationals MPs also voice support

Mr Joyce not only has the support of his political opponent Mr Bandt, but also shadow treasurer Chris Bowen.

"The Labor Party has made no public statement about Mr Joyce's personal situation for the last six months — despite the fact it has been well known in this building — and we are not about to start today," Mr Bowen said.

"I have plenty of criticisms of Barnaby Joyce. I think he is a very poor Deputy Prime Minister, but my criticisms of him are of his job.

"Frankly, his personal situation is none of my business, and with respect it is none of anybody else's business.

"In terms of his personal life, I wish him nothing but the best and his family nothing but the best."

Nationals backbencher Darren Chester also argued that personal matters should remain private.

Mr Chester said he did not want to comment publicly on the personal lives of people who he knew well.

"I wish them all well and particularly the baby on the way," he said.

Mr Chester said Mr Joyce's personal circumstances would not affect his leadership of the Nationals.

"Barnaby is a very strong leader in the National Party, he has the overwhelming support of our team," Mr Chester said.

"The issues that have been canvassed in the media today have nothing to do with his performance as leader of the National Party and I believe that private matters should remain private."