Brogden sex pest claims fabricated, women say

John Brogden

CANBERRA - Some of the allegations of sexual misbehaviour believed to have contributed to the attempted suicide of former New South Wales Opposition Leader John Brogden were fabricated, it has been alleged.

Brogden last week tried to kill himself following his resignation as State Liberal Leader for calling the Malaysian-born wife of former NSW Premier Bob Carr a mail-order bride, and making sexual advances to two female journalists at a Sydney function.

He was found with his wrists slashed, apparently after learning that Sydney's tabloid Daily Telegraph was about to publish further reports of improper conduct.

The ensuing reports and Brogden's suicide attempt unleashed a furious debate over media ethics.

Fury has also been directed at factional in-fighting within the Liberal Party, following confirmation that information had been passed to the Telegraph from within Brogden's own political circle.

The second wave of allegations were published by the newspaper in a front-page story headlined "Brogden's sordid past".

This was removed and replaced in a later edition with another reporting the former leader's suicide attempt.

The story said Brogden had suggested two young female reporters have sex with him during a "boozy" Christmas party in his parliamentary office in 2003 - "just one of a catalogue of shameful performances".

It said he had first complimented the two women, telling them they were so attractive they should be kept in a nunnery, and then suggesting they all have sex together.

The newspaper said one of the unnamed women had said Brogden had jokingly made a suggestion about threesomes, but had not intended to make the incident public until they learned of his other drunken behaviour.

But the ABC TV programme Media Watch said the report of the proposition was completely fabricated, and had been denied by the women allegedly approached.

"I would like to put on record that I never came forward to the Telegraph with these accusations, never spoke with the Telegraph and certainly never gave quotes," one of the women told the programme.

The other told Media Watch she had declined to comment when telephoned by a Telegraph reporter.

Telegraph editor David Penberthy told the programme in a written reply that he had heard unconfirmed reports that the women were denying speaking to the newspaper.

But he said the reporter had spoken to them, that both had provided accounts of the incident, and that the story was legitimate and accurate.