A series of scandals starring Australian Labor Party politicians from New South Wales is threatening the regional government – and the national government of Kevin Rudd as well.
The departure of Mr Della Bosca, one of Labor’s most experienced ministers, over an extramarital affair alleged to have occurred with a woman less than half his age, followed the Premier demanding the resignation of the former police minister Matt Brown for dancing in his underwear at a party last year.
It also comes after the sacking of the former small business minister, Tony Stewart, over allegations he held down a female staffer by the leg and verbally abused her at a charity dinner and then had to the Premier about it.
This follows the departures during Morris Iemma’s premiership of Paul Gibson, for allegations he was guilty of domestic violence (which police later failed to sustain); the charging of Milton Orkopoulous with child sex offences; and the sacking of the former police minister Carl Scully for misleading Parliament.
After Mr Brown’s resignation, Mr Rees promised to ”end the soap opera” of the Labor Government. Asked how felt about this yesterday, Mr Rees said: ”How do you think?”
Just off the top of the head here, it would appear that the soap opera has been renewed for another season. (This latest ministerial scandal is pretty sleazy with the 53-year old Della Bosca allegedly inviting his 26-year old mistress to have sex on the ministerial couch in his office. She is the one who announced the sordid details).
Reuters reports that this has put Rudd in a very, very bad position:
The resignation and lurid details of sex in Della Bosca’s ministerial office could cement anti-Labor sentiment, leaving Rudd vulnerable to a backlash from frustrated voters in the state in national elections, say political analysts.
Rudd was hoping to call snap elections to grab a firmer hold in parliament, this has put him in a position where the snap election could actually cost him his grip completely.
More details from Tim Blair (now at his new site full time).
