SYDNEY: A top Australian minister admitted yesterday to joking about a colleague’s suicide attempt, offering an apology and declaring “I have never claimed to be the world’s most sensitive person”.
Health Minister Tony Abbott’s apology came during questioning on ABC television over his remarks about former New South Wales (NSW) state Liberal Party leader John Brogden last week.
“If it would make people feel better if I apologised, I’m always happy to apologise,” said Abbott, once touted as a possible successor to Prime Minister John Howard, when asked whether it was inappropriate for a health minister to joke about suicide. “I don’t believe in standing on my dignity.”
Brogden resigned on Monday after it was revealed that he called the Malaysian-born wife of former NSW premier Bob Carr a “mail-order bride”, pinched the bottom of one female journalist and propositioned another at an alcohol-fuelled party.
He was admitted to hospital late on Tuesday after attempting to commit suicide in his office as a Sydney newspaper prepared to publish more allegations about inappropriate behaviour towards a number of female members of his staff and journalists.
Abbott publicly praised his colleague in the wake of the suicide attempt and denied Brogden had been the victim of a smear campaign, saying at the time that in Australia “politicians give each other no quarter, the media are relentless, intrusive, ruthless and insensitive”.
But the ABC revealed that at a function 12 hours after Brogden’s suicide attempt, Abbott was asked about a health proposal and replied: “If we did that we would be as dead as the former Liberal leader’s political prospects.”
He made more remarks at a fundraising function that evening.
Brogden’s suicide attempt prompted soul searching among politicians and the media in Australia, with many critics saying that the pursuit of the 36-year-old former NSW Liberal leader had gone too far.
Brogden, who was discharged from hospital on Wednesday afternoon, is believed to be recovering at a rural retreat in NSW. – AFP