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This is a story that should never have been. Channel 7, in all of their tabloid glory, have taken to following State Labor ministers in their time off. With complete insensitivity towards David Campbell’s family, and his mental well-being, Channel 7’s “investigative reporting” has single-handedly destroyed this man’s career and seen him publicly humiliated nationwide.
He committed no crime. He didn’t break any parliamentary rules. There are no restrictions on personal use of government cars. His “crime”, in the eyes of Channel 7 was to visit a gay sex club. As this rather sympathetic Herald article notes, “Campbell did not pay men for sex; he was in a club which does not admit minors and whose sole purpose is to provide a venue at which willingly consenting adult men have sex with each other.”
The fact that he also happens to have a wife and two children should not be cause for exposing this other facet of his personal life to the world. It is not for us to pass moral judgements on such actions; it is simply none of our bloody business. The mainstream media should be ashamed for plastering this story all over the headlines, and for including ridiculous details like the club’s website description as ”the spacious, clean and safe place to meet sexy guys”. Really, one would expect better from the Herald.
As for News Limited, they never miss an opportunity to stick the knife into NSW state Labor (not that it needs much help). “The final nail in NSW Labor’s coffin” is the editorial line penned by Simon Benson. On Campbell he writes:
Now this. Another minister forced to resign because of questions about his personal ethics.
David Campbell’s resignation raises questions about the man’s integrity. Of that there is no doubt.
Campbell didn’t resign over questions about his personal ethics. This is a man who has had the most intimate details of his personal life broadcast to the nation. He resigned to deal with the inevitable fallout within his own family. His resignation reveals nothing about his political integrity whatsoever. Honestly, Simon Benson’s role as the Daily Telegraph’s chief political reporter is laughable considering its lack of coherence and clumsy language. Furthermore he’s completely daft if he thinks the state election “can’t come soon enough for most voters” – as if we have a credible opposition in the state of New South Wales.
I suspect we will never know if David Campbell was honest with his wife and children, or if he kept his “other life” a secret from them. Either way, it’s absolutely nothing to do with his role as a politician and therefore should be out of bounds for the media. One wonders if the same fate would have befallen him if he merely had been visiting a mistress in Sydney, as I’m sure many of his colleagues do.
Update: Looks like Keneally has done the right thing and left open the possibility of David Campbell returning to a ministry position. She attacked the media for its invasive reporting but nevertheless attacked Campbell for leading a double life and betraying the trust of his family. A politically motivated hedge if ever I saw one.
“I think it is appalling that he kept this secret, particularly from his family and his colleagues.
“I also think it is appalling that we live in a society that he had to keep this secret.”
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Shameful of the media…
Anyone who actually watched the Channel 7 report: did they actually insinuate that he was there during the F3 traffic jam?
I didn’t catch the report, but many news articles infer that to be the case. They say that he “refused” to state his whereabouts during that time. Not that it’s really relevant in my opinion, because he’s not really in an executive position. Minister he might be, but he’s not supposed to call up the RTA and interfere in day-to-day operations. That’s simply not his brief.
Thank you for this article. I can’t say i’m shocked by the smuttiness in today’s media, but perhaps i am by its blatant homophobia. I’m glad to see that others see this for what it is- a disgusting breach of a man’s privacy. Since when do Australians care about their politicians private lives? If Campbell has voted against pro-gay legislation i can perhaps understand some elements of this media circus; no on likes a hypocrite. But has he? Whens the last time gay liberalizing policies came before parliament?
“Labor was rocked by another sex scandal! “So did all the media outlets exclaim this morning. What have we come to these days, the tabloid politics of British parliaments?
I suspect this has no impact on the in-coming state election whatsoever, if any, it would actually help Labor’s course from the sympathy votes. For all the detestation I had expressed toward NSW Labor so far, I have just decided to stick with Labor in the next state election – tell me bloody minded if you like
I think Keneally can win. Go girl!
From the Link to SMH:
“However, the report also alluded to his whereabouts during the recent fiasco involving a truck crash on the F3 freeway, which led to motorists being stuck in traffic for hours.
“Mr Campbell was heavily criticised over his handling of the incident and refused to disclose where he was as the traffic chaos unfolded.
His colleagues privately expressed both shock and sympathy at the news last night. However, the Herald understands some Labor MPs have been aware of Mr Campbell’s double life for some time. Last night, there was speculation this information had been leaked to the media.”
My opinion is that someone wanted him gone, and leaked his lifestyle to the media. I don’t really know what’s worse; that the MSM still thinks that someone’s sex life is grounds for resignation, or that pollies appear to believe the public thinks it.
This is a shameful example of homophobia and sets back the cause for equal rights. The insinuation that he was wrong to go there, or that it was a bad place to go. I can imagine all the rednecks in Western Sydney getting out the pitch forks.
And what about the club itself? Kens has been there for decades. How will this affect business? Are people still going to go if they think there a bloody channel seven camera out the front? Will the Westies come in and gay bash people leaving there now? This is pretty serious stuff.
Kens is a friendly place to go, channel seven IMO has put people at risk of physical harm if nothing else. I certainly won’t be going there anymore for a while.
I do feel sorry for Campbell as it appears he was trapped in a life of lies, largely I guess to do with societal pressures (at least perceived). And who knows, his wife may have known anyway?
This is gutter journalism, and for any pollie involved gutter politics. Right up there with the muck American pollies throw at each other.
It’s nice to see a few online polls suggesting most people think his sex life has nothing to do with his roll.
I don’t know why he resigned? Having a “personal secret” leaves him vulnerable to extortion, but if that hasn’t happened… then what’s the story?
I also found this story absolutely disgusting journalism. As for following a man to get a story that is low, low, low.
It has nothing to do with his political role and the poor man’s family must be absolutely distraught. What did they do to you Channel 7???
I am a grandmother and not gay and do not have a problem with anybody and their sexuality.
This is a very sad day
I’m really pleased to see that there’s a widespread sense that this was a step over the line.
The issue of the ministerial car is patently ridiculous, considering it’s not against any rules to use it for personal purposes.
And considering Adam Walters’ pretty shady personal life, including his 250 hour community service sentence, it’s a bit rich for him to be casting stones.
maybe sour grapes adam walters? ,
yet you and your partner reba meagher left reba’s ministerial vehicle AND driver waiting all night in August 2008 whilst Walters and Meagher went home by taxi earlier in the night after celebrating Walter’s birthday ,
apparently both were too intoxicated and thoughtless to even bother tell Reba’s Ministerial driver he was not needed
even though Meagher’s Ministerial Driver had a wife at home expecting childbirth
furthermore here is adam Walters a father of 3 children to 3 different women
passing judgement upon other people’s private lives
wow, you certainly make a grubby reporter Walters
Unless he was part of a group that looked to supress homosexual right’s (as is often the case with US republican’s being caught in airport toiletswith men who are ‘just helping clean up a mustard stain’), this is a non-issue…
Agree entirely. Channel 7 have lowered the journalistic bar in this country. On the bright side, there seems to be widespread public backlash – maybe that will deter them in future.
Yeah, I saw this but couldn’t understand why anyone actually cared or how it actually mattered.
Though it may be a family scandal, I don’t see what it has to do with his job.
Yep, Adam Walters has form in this area – Let he who is with sin not cast the first stone!
And the justification of Channel 7 – Campbell is a hypocrite because he sent out Christams cards featuring him and his family?
Oh please!
I couldn’t give a fuck what Mr Campbell or any other politician does in their private life, that’s their business!
Well I for one won’t be watching 7 news again. They are now using this story to promote their news programs. They are a disgrace. Oh and as far as I know he still has a family, so he is not portraying anything he was not.
What have the media ever done for the people lately?
I think it’s so wrong that his personal life has been put out to the public like this. I would like to think the reason he left was at his own accord and his hand was not forced.
personally I do not care if he is gay or not it would not affect the way he works.
however if he really left to work on family things than it’s worth it. He has 2 sons and a wife what a way for them to find out. I am sure this will have a big impact on his family for the rest of there life’s. I say good on him for putting his family before his job. if that is the real reason he left.
Is that right. So Walters has form for being a media creep. Who’da thought it?
If I’d been a watcher of the seven news I too would now be pointedly not watching, but then I haven’t so I won’t; but if I see Walters in the street I will verbally abuse him on behalf of all incensed “Bludgers”.
Christ could the modern media get much more pruriently pointless.
Good work ! Keep us posting, you are very good writer.