Australian Politicians

More dismal evidence of the low bar for antipodean political office today…

The Police Minister in the already embattled New South Wales Government (see previous post) has been forced to resign. According to news accounts from witnesses, Minister Matt Brown:

“Stripped to his ‘very brief’ underpants” and then “mounted the chest” of fellow Labor MP Noreen Hay. He then simulated a sex act on Ms Hay, shouting to her adult daughter “"Look at this, I'm tittie-f****** your mother!”. Really quite shocking.

The Minister had been given an initial warning from the Premier, but has today been forced to resign. (Incidentally he denies the exact quote but admits the sex act).

A few other examples:

• The chair-sniffing tendencies of the former WA Leader of the Opposition, Troy Buswell
  
  
• A NSW Parliamentary punch-up in 2005 where one MP had to be dragged out of the building by the serjeant-at-arms
  
  
• The Aboringal Affairs Minister in NSW now serving a 13-year sentence for drug and child-sex offences.
  
  
• Widespread fraud and sleaze like the bungs and backhanders that led to the 2006 resignation of the Tasmanian Deputy Premier.