Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion timeline

2016

May - Vikki Campion assists Barnaby Joyce's election campaign as media adviser, having previously worked with NSW government ministers and News Corp

August - Campion joins Joyce's staff. She splits with fiance John Bergin, three months before they were due to wed. Friendship develops between Joyce and Campion

December - Chief of staff Di Hallam reportedly seeks Joyce's approval to have Campion transferred out of office. Hallam later quits to take up departmental role

Related reading Nationals members in talks about asking Joyce to resign: report

2017

February - Campion is photographed in a Sydney bar with Joyce

April - Barnaby's wife Natalie reportedly confronts Campion in Tamworth. Campion goes to minister Matt Canavan office as adviser. Natalie and Barnaby seek to make marriage work

May - At NSW Nationals conference in Broken Hill colleagues describe Joyce as "a mess"

June - Natalie and Barnaby show up together at Canberra press gallery midwinter ball

July - Campion leaves Canavan office after he quits frontbench over citizenship. She temporarily goes back to Joyce's office

August - Campion moves to Damian Drum's office in a social media adviser position specially created for her. He already has a media adviser. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is reportedly reassured by Joyce the relationship with Campion is over. Drum says he was told the same thing. Former Joyce chief of staff Di Hallam takes up a senior position with the Inland Rail project

September - Natalie reportedly asks family friend, Catholic priest Father Frank Brennan, to counsel Joyce. Campion is seen managing Joyce media events at federal Nationals conference in Canberra

October - Campion reportedly takes stress leave. Writ issued for New England by-election after Joyce quits over dual citizenship

November - Natalie holidays in Bali with a daughter. Man in a pub in Inverell angers Joyce during election campaign by reportedly saying: "Say hello to your mistress"

December - Joyce wins by-election. Joyce tells parliament during same-sex marriage debate he is separated. Campion's redundancy package is approved. They move into an Armidale property provided rent-free by businessman Greg Maguire

2018

January - Joyce and Campion holiday in north Queensland and NSW north coast

February - Joyce tells reporters Campion is now his partner. But denies she was his partner when she worked in Canavan's office

Mid-April - Joyce-Campion baby is due

(Source: Based on media reports and official statements.)