Disgraced Australian politician attempts suicide

SYDNEY - A suicide attempt by former New South Wales opposition leader John Brogden has left his family, friends and Liberal party colleagues shocked and distraught.

Police said Mr Brogden was found unconscious in a back room of his northern beaches electorate office at about 10.30pm last night.

He was rushed by ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital with what police said were self-inflicted injuries.

A police spokesman said he was unable to confirm reports that Mr Brogden was being treated for stab wounds, but said his injuries were reported to be "fairly minor" and that he was expected to make a reasonably quick recovery.

Less than 36 hours after admitting to inappropriate behaviour at a Sydney hotel and quitting the NSW Liberal party leadership, an unconscious Mr Brogden is understood to have been found by police at his Mona Vale office.

It's believed the officers had been responding to calls from his family, who had reported him missing.

Mr Brogden's wife Lucy was by his bedside this morning and he received visits from Liberal party colleagues including leadership aspirants Barry O'Farrell and Peter Debnam, treasury spokeswoman Peta Seaton and legal affairs spokesman Andrew Tink.

Following his visit early today, Mr Debnam told reporters at the hospital that he had passed on the good wishes of his parliamentary colleagues to a family friend of the Brogdens.

He said he had been told that Mr Brogden was being kept in hospital for observation and it was hoped he may be sent home as early as today.

He said his fellow MPs were shocked at the latest "earthquake" to rock the party.

"Obviously everyone is distraught," Mr Debnam said.

Mr Debnam said no one wanted to make a decision about the impending leadership ballot that is due today, and that members of the party would speak later this morning.

"We're just trying to come to grips with the earthquakes that we have had in the last 48 hours and everyone is just praying that John is out of hospital soon," he said.

Mr Brogden's suicide attempt comes after three tumultuous days for the former opposition leader and his party.

Newspaper reports emerged on Sunday that he had had too much to drink and behaved badly at an Australian Hotels Association function at Sydney's Hilton Hotel on July 29.

By Sunday night, he had admitted to acting inappropriately at the function by referring to the wife of former premier Bob Carr, Malaysian-born Helena Carr, as a "mail-order bride".

He also apologised for pinching a female journalist on the bottom and propositioning another at the same function.

"I acted dishonourably and now is the time to act honourably," Mr Brogden told a packed press conference on Monday.

"I am resigning the leadership of the Liberal Party today."

Mr Brogden, 36, who had been Liberal leader since 2002, said he would remain in parliament and hoped to return to the Liberal front bench in the future.

- AAP