NSW politican quits after racial slur, bottom pinch

SYDNEY - John Brogden has announced his resignation as NSW Opposition leader after he called former premier Bob Carr's wife Helena a "mail-order bride".

Mr Brogden said he was doing the honourable thing by resigning.

"I acted dishonourably and now is the time to act honourably," he told reporters.

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

Mr Brogden said he would remain the Member for Pittwater.

Mr Brogden again apologised for the slur he made against Mrs Carr at an Australian Hotels Association function last month.

He also reiterated his regret for pinching Sunday Telegraph journalist Justine Ferrari on the bottom, and for propositioning another journalist from the Sun-Herald.

"I'd like to start again by restating my absolute and unreserved apology to Helena Carr and Bob Carr," he said.

"The comments I made were absolutely and completely inappropriate.

"They're not true and I apologise for them fulsomely and genuinely."

To the journalists involved he said: "My actions were in jest but that does not excuse the fact they were inappropriate actions. To them I apologise absolutely and completely."

Mr Brogden said the "majority" of his colleagues had urged him to stay, but he had to do the right thing and resign.

"Their loyalty to me must be returned by my loyalty to the Liberal Party," he said.

Mr Brogden said his wife Lucy stood by his decision to resign.

"Lucy stands by this decision," he said.

"She indicated she'd stand by whatever decision I made.

"For me and for our family, I think this is the right decision."

He described his wife as "my biggest critic and my biggest fan".

"Anyone who has been married, as I have, for over 10 years knows that life's a partnership."

Mr Brogden said he would be furious if anyone made a comment about his wife like the one he made about Mrs Carr.

"What galls me the most is if someone had said this about Lucy, I'd be furious, so what can I say to my wife when I say this of another politician's wife, who I barely know by the way?

"I don't know Mrs Carr well.

"I could count on one hand the number of times I've met Helena."

Mr Brogden said the party would meet on Wednesday to decide on his replacement as leader.

- AAP