Nationals MP Andrew Broad has announced he will not contest the next federal election, but will remain on the backbench as the member for Mallee.
His political career has come to an end after it was alleged that he’d had dinner with a young woman in Hong Kong who he had connected with through a dating website that matches older ‘sugar daddies’ with younger women.
The politician always promoted himself as a family values candidate and he had previously been critical of other politicians who had engaged in relationships outside of marriage. Broad was also a vocal opponent of allowing same-sex couples the right to wed.
Yesterday Broad resigned from his position as an Assistant Minister following the publication of the allegations in New Idea magazine.
Earlier this morning Nationals leader Michael McCormack suggested that Broad consider his future in the parliament.
The party leader had been drawn into the saga when people questioned how long he had been aware of Broad’s situation. Yesterday McCormack said he had become aware of the situation a couple of weeks ago, but later in the day he clarified that he’d actually been informed almost six weeks ago.
Broad said his Victorian electorate would be better served by another candidate.
“After recent media stories about my private life, it is clear that the people of Mallee will be best served in the next Parliament by a different Nationals candidate,” he said. The politician thanked his supporters alongside his staff and family.
“I have done my best and at times we have achieved good things, but I have also let them down,” he said.
Broad’s announcement has open speculation that the Nationals’ deputy leader Bridget McKenzie may stand as a replacement candidate. McKenzie is currently in the senate, but a move to the lower house would clear the path for her taking over as leader of the party in the future.
Speaking to the media earlier today Michael McCormack rejected the proposition that the National party had a problem with women, highlighting that both of the female Nationals MPs play significant roles.
“Both the women in my party, Bridget McKenzie, my deputy leader, and Michelle Landry, are ministers and certainly the women’s council of the National Party at a federal and at a state level are doing a fantastic job to encourage more women to put their hands up for office.” McCormack said.
OIP Staff
