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Sydney - A leading Australian politician
resigned on Monday after it was revealed that
he called an opponent's Malaysian wife a
"mail order bride", pinched the
bottom of one female journalist and
propositioned another at an alcohol-fuelled
party.
New South Wales opposition Liberal Party
leader John Brogden told a hastily-called
news conference that he regretted his
"inappropriate" behaviour and
would quit the post that could have seen him
become state premier.
He denied being drunk at the party thrown for
the media by the Australian Hotels
Association three weeks ago but admitted
drinking six beers to celebrate the recent
resignation of the long-standing premier, Bob
Carr.
Career in ruins
With Carr out of the way, Brogden, 37, was
tipped to have a strong chance of taking the
premiership at the next state elections in
2007.
But his career was in ruins on Monday after
reports of his behaviour at the party
surfaced in local newspapers, and he told the
news conference: "I acted
dishonourably and now is the time to act
honourably."
Prime Minister John Howard, leader of
Brogden's Liberal Party, earlier condemned
the remarks about Carr's Malaysian-born
wife Helena as "just quite
wrong".
"I know Helena Carr and she's a
very gracious person. That sort of comment
should never have been made."
Carr, who resigned in July after leading
Australia's most populous state for 10
years, rejected Brogden's apology.
"I think that his apology is entirely
unacceptable to Helena and that is the
greatest insult not only to her but of every
woman of Asian background," Carr
said.
His wife Helena said the remark was
"hurtful".
Night of madness
The Daily Telegraph said the backdrop to
Brogden's "night of madness"
was one of the most eagerly awaited events on
the Sydney social calendar - the Australian
Hotels Association annual media drinks
party.
"Top notch champagne and boutique
beers flowed freely" at the Hilton
hotel and "as the night wore on,
journalists began getting the word that Mr
Brogden was out for a big night and wanted
them to join him in the bar".
There, they were surprised to see Brogden
looking "very cosy" with
several blonde women, the report said.
It was not immediately clear why it had taken
so long for the story to surface, given that
Brogden's behaviour was witnessed by a
number of journalists.
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