McCormack to Become Australian Deputy Prime Minister

Michael McCormack has been appointed as Australia's Deputy Prime Minister, succeeding Barnaby Joyce, who resigned following a scandal involving an extramarital affair. McCormack, a former journalist and businessman, was relatively unknown to the public before being selected as the leader of the National Party. The scandal surrounding Joyce sparked debates in Australia about the privacy of public figures and the role of media in political affairs.

What position did Michael McCormack hold before becoming Deputy Prime Minister?

What sparked the debate about privacy in the context of Barnaby Joyce's affair?