NSW: Brogden's disgrace extends beyond political conduct

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2005
NSW: Brogden's disgrace extends beyond political conduct

SYDNEY, Aug 31 AAP - John Brogden would have been living through the darkest days of
his political life following his resignation as NSW Opposition leader, former Victorian
Jeff Kennett said.

His career is in tatters, yet Mr Brogden's disgrace extended beyond just his political
conduct, and this fact may explain his actions tonight.

It had appeared Mr Brogden resigned mainly because of the revelation of his alcohol-fuelled
reference to former premier Bob Carr's wife Helena as a "mail-order bride".

The comment, made at an Australian Hotels Association function on July 29, was widely
condemned as inappropriate and tasteless.

Yet the allegations also extended to his sexual harassment of two women journalists,
one of whose bottom he pinched and the other who he is said to have propositioned.

His behaviour towards the journalists provoked further news coverage of his personal
conduct while NSW Liberal leader - allegations that would have tested his relationship
with his wife Lucy.

Following his resignation, Mr Brogden admitted Lucy Brogden was his "biggest critic
and my biggest fan".

Referring to his remark about Malaysian-born Helena Carr, he added: "What galls me
the most is if someone had said this about Lucy, I'd be furious, so what can I say to
my wife when I say this of another politician's wife, who I barely know by the way?"

It was clear that whatever damage his actions may have caused to his political life,
the harm caused to his marriage threatened to be more substantial.

Asked after his resignation on Monday if his wife had forgiven him, Mr Brogden replied:
"Ah ... yeah ... of course, yeah, I mean you know ... yeah.

"We didn't sleep much last night. But no, I didn't sleep on the couch."

At his resignation announcement, Lucy Brogden was nowhere to be seen.

Just 36, Mr Brogden is a career politician who ascended to his party's leadership at
the age of just 33.

"I've always known what I wanted to do," he once said of politics.

The ill-fated night which sealed his political fate came just two days after Bob Carr
retired as premier, handing Mr Brogden a great new opportunity of claiming power at the
2007 election and fulfilling his political ambition.

With that chance gone, and his personal life in turmoil, Mr Brogden would have felt
the most important things in his life were collapsing around him.

"I don't know what he's going through today. I imagine it would be the darkest day
of his political life, deservedly so," Mr Kennett said.

Mr Kennett lamented the increased exposure that all politicians had to face .

"I do think we are becoming a society that is so politically correct that we are losing
our character and our politicians, in one sense, are becoming exceedingly boring because
they're not allowed to have personalities," he said.

Mr Kennett admitted he had drunk too much at public functions while he was in office
and said that in general, a sincere apology should suffice for some mistakes.

"In one sense, when we make mistakes, even serious mistakes, we should be able to apologise
and we should be able to move on. You should be able to do that in this sort of society."

AAP sp/hu/

KEYWORD: BROGDEN CAREER (BACKGROUNDER)

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