Shamed Brogden attempts suicide: [3 All-round Metro Edition]
Brad Norington, Andrew West. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 31 Aug 2005: 1.
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Abstract
Shortly after midnight, Mr [Barry O’Farrell], Peta Seaton and several of [John Brogden]’s staff and close relatives left Royal North Shore Hospital.
Last night a former female staffer named as part of scuttlebutt involving Mr Brogden denied any relationship between the pair. Suzanne Tulloch said they were only friends.
It was reported that Ms Brogden’s father, former state party treasurer Frank Hooke, suggested Ms Tulloch leave his son-in-law’s office in 1999 because colleagues had begun to speculate about their relationship. Mr Brogden had also denied the rumours.
Full Text
FORMER NSW Opposition leader John Brogden attempted to take his own life last night at his electoral office on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Mr Brogden — who resigned the leadership of the state Liberal Party on Monday over a racist joke and claims of sexual harassment – – slit his wrists.
He was found unconscious in his electoral office at Mona Vale just before 10.30pm and was taken by ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital.
The attempt on his life came ahead of the publication of fresh details about the 36-year-old’s private life in a Sydney newspaper today.
Mr Brogden arrived at the hospital with his head and body covered by a sheet.
His wife, Lucy, and senior Liberal frontbencher Andrew Tink were by his side.
Several other supporters from the front bench were also at the hospital last night.
The ballot to replace Mr Brogden as party leader is likely to be postponed today, with members of the party expected to be too distressed to continue with the vote.
However, if it were to go ahead the surprise winner would be transport spokesman Peter Debnam, by two votes from deputy leader Barry O’Farrell.
The last politician to attempt to commit suicide was federal Labor frontbencher Nick Sherry, who slit his wrists in October 1997, after he was attacked in parliament by Treasurer Peter Costello,
over his parliamentary travel entitlements.
Federal Labor backbencher Greg Wilton committed suicide in June 2000. He gassed himself in his car in bushland outside Melboure, less than three weeks after he attempted to take the lives of his two young children the same way.
Shortly after midnight, Mr O’Farrell, Peta Seaton and several of John Brogden’s staff and close relatives left Royal North Shore Hospital.
Mr Brogden is expected to be discharged tomorrow.
Since Sunday, when he confessed to having pinched a
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female journalist’s bottom — jokingly, he said — his enemies have revived a series of stories about his alleged inappropriate behaviour towards other women.
The reporting of the last round of rumours represents a new and potentially dangerous development in the relationship between politicians and the media.
Last night a former female staffer named as part of scuttlebutt involving Mr Brogden denied any relationship between the pair. Suzanne Tulloch said they were only friends.
It was reported that Ms Brogden’s father, former state party treasurer Frank Hooke, suggested Ms Tulloch leave his son-in-law’s office in 1999 because colleagues had begun to speculate about their relationship. Mr Brogden had also denied the rumours.
The allegations concerning Mr Brogden’s behaviour at a party on July 29 ended his leadership only because the women concerned were willing to confirm the events. The fresh claims were more risky as they relied on anonymous sources.
Additional reporting: Nick Leys and John Stapleton
More reports — Page 6