Thoughts on Brogden's suicide attempt

Numerous issues swirl around my mind as I consider the Brogden suicide attempt. For those not in the know, he's the NSW opposition leader who resigned following journalistic accounts of racist statements and sexual harrassment and subsequently attempted suicide. As with most events of any importance, it is not easy to consider and to balance these issues.

Firstly, let me say this is a personal tragedy, and I don't minimise that. I've recently come to better recognise the nature of personal tragedies, and I don't trivialise them. But we still need to consider this in a socio-policitical context.

Was he up to the job? He seems to have buckled pretty quickly in the end. But I don't hold any weakness against him - it's just an element in this personal tragedy. More pertinently, should that be a reason to limit his role in politics? It's probably reason enough to question his suitability for the role of NSW premier.

Factionalism in the Liberal Party. At his resignation, Brogden named a party hack (as I understand, of the right) who needed to think hard about his actions in this case. The suggestion is that it's another hatchet job by the right of the Liberal Party. It seems that both NSW Labor and Liberal rights play by the same rules, and they play hard both within and outside the party.

Role of the media 1. Crickey.com.au raised this issue. Why did it take 4 weeks or so for news on this to leak out. Apparently it was an open secret around town, and there were numerous journalists in attendance. I think the function was private, but not under Chatham House rules. Were the media giving politicians leeway on personal issues? Media has been good in Australia is not outing politicians' personal lives unless they could affect his/her political role or display some hypocrisy. But you could argue that Brogden's performance has bearing on a possible future role as NSW premier.

Role of the media 2. Brogden attempted suicide when he learnt that the Daily Telegraph was to publish accusations about other sexual peccadilloes in his past. Apparently these are just unsubstantiated accusations. In my paranoid moments, I could see a connection between the Murdoch media putting the boot into a moderate Liberal leader and likely premier, and thus assisting the Right to get its representative in place. Most likely, this is just my paranoia ... I hope.

Political Correctness and the Right. What strage and successful bedfellows they are! The Right just wins and wins with PC. They attack the elites for promoting PC. Then they use PC to destroy a moderate collaborator. No doubt, Brogden allowed this to happen. But it appears a Right-wing (and presumably anti-PC) Party apparatchik used issues of sexual and race morality to undermine an opponent.

Depression and suicide 1. Suicide now kills more Australians than road accidents. Compare the silence on suicide and depression with the clamour on the road toll or terrorism or paedophilia. There's lots of emotion and lots of fear created by these latter topics. And emotion and fear are tools for political power. They promote simplistic moral judgements in society - us-or-them - and this is dangerous. Yes, road deaths and terrorism and paedophilia are unwanted things. But, looking at it statistically, suicide kills more Australians but it's a minor political issue. Where's our balance?

Depression and suicide 2. It amuses me how politicians are hugely sympathetic when one of their own attempts suicide. I remember a case in the Commonwealth Senate a few years ago which created a huge outpouring of grief. To some degree this is just a normal human reaction to a tragic event, and I'm relieved they remain able to experience that feeling. I doubt Stalin or Hitler or Mao would have. But politicians make economic and other decisions every day which affect society. Many decisions lead to grief and despair and depression and perhaps suicide. If politicans are representing all of us, how come there's such a diverse reaction? This displays humanity, yes, but also distance from the electorate.

Depression and suicide 3. What does the level of suicide in Australia, and the developed world, say about our societies? This is the biggie, and I have my opinions. But it's the issue underlying our whole politics but it's too big for now.