Why David Campbell has a lesser right to privacy

Clem says:

11:29am | 21/05/10

I bet you anything Reba Meagher gave Adam Walters the tip-off about this story. I bet there is plenty known in the media about which politicians have visited which sleazy establishments by the media, but the choice to air this sort of stuff is determined by other circumstances, in this case, revenge. I find it hard to believe that reporters would feel duty-bound to expose these salacious and personal stories every time they became aware of them. In fact, isn’t it an old convention that an MP’s personal life is always off limits? Seems like the modern breed of journalist doesn’t have such restraints standing in the way of a good story.

So Penbo, I don’t find your sympathy and pity disingenuous, you’ve proved in your past writings you’re quite the humanist, but I find your defence of the media in this instance half-hearted and lame.

acker says:

11:30am | 21/05/10

Nice rant about Adam Walters and Reba Meagher but surely as a journalist you can’t deny that is a story within this story in itself. Press Advisor of former premier Morris Iemma breaks sex story on David Campbell that is of public interest too.. Anyway this rabble parliment should be disolved right now !

Jane says:

11:34am | 21/05/10

The ‘right to know’ is a boring and tired argument trotted out by ratings driven media to out-win and out-do each other and to justify muck-raking stories such as this. I honestly believe that Campbell, as have many middle-aged men and women, struggled on daily basis with their sexuality. And yes you claim he has lived on the public purse but suggest he has deliberately ‘projected two images’ simply to win votes is shallow at best. David Campbell did what our society 30 years ago expected - get married, have kids and rise through the ranks at work. Sure, put any person elected to public life under the mircoscope for their ability to deliver on the job but everyone has equal RIGHTS to deal private matters privately.

BTS says:

11:39am | 21/05/10

Anything can be justified if you say it over and over enough times to convince yourself.

Politicians, like footballers, should be entitled to a private life - you are.

Abby says:

11:51am | 21/05/10

Penbo - don’t you think that the driving a Ministerial car is a bit of a lame reason for Channel Seven? Did you ever consider breaking this story on this website or when you were at the Telegraph?

AJ says:

11:52am | 21/05/10

I disagree with this article.

I find it hard to believe that there are no other Ministers or other people whose “existence is underwritten by the taxpaying public” and who also use their company cars for similar “personal” activities (as permitted by the guidelines governing the use of their company cars).  The only reason this story has become such a media sensation is because the Minister frequented a “gay” venue and is therefore gay, bi-sexual or falls somewhere else on the spectrum of sexuality.

Obviously the Minister has disrespected his family enormously (provided they didn’t know about his activities), but I don’t think that is reason to call “open season” on his personal life and activities in the media. 

IF the Minister had publicly campaigned against equal rights for gays and lesbians, then there may be an argument for “outing” him (although I personally don’t think outing should ever be condoned), but the Minister’s only “wrong” was a personal one in respect of his family and (on the information provided) has little bearing on his job performance. 

The Minister should be judged openly and harsly on his professional performance, but not on his personal life.  Very poor reporting from Channel 7.

Bazz says:

11:58am | 21/05/10

Do the media hound straight politicians and film them entering brothels or strip clubs? This is blatant discrimination! Even Kevin Rudd went to a strip club in the USA but hey, that’s OK - he’s (evidently) straight!

who cares says:

11:58am | 21/05/10

Penbo normally you can make a pretty elegant argument but this is just ridiculous. So every public servant has to declare their preferences / infidelities. Give me a break. He is entitled to use govt provided car for private use. Any grief he gets on the home front is between him and his missus. Granted the guy is a standard issue political peanut but what he does in his own time is none of our business. Journos have had a bad week - first the tantys about joe hockey not releasing budget numbers according to your schedule and now some mucky salemesque kangaroo court.

Jas says:

11:58am | 21/05/10

Disgraceful behaviour by a journslist. Clearly as low as that lof a politician. Adam Walters has no credibility at all - as a human or a journo

Jack Stack says:

12:01pm | 21/05/10

If David Campbell had been a hypocrite and voiced anti-Gay attitudes that would have been reprehensible and maybe warranted exposure BUT he didn’t. The fact that he is Gay or Bi-sexual is nobody’s business but his own. There’s no doubt about you media whores sticking together when the public is revolted by your behaviour and muck raking. I don’t know David Campbell, don’t vote Labour and have read where they say he was an incompetent minister BUT to have his life dragged into the vacuous and ethically challenged media in this way says a lot about how some in the media reside in a sewer. How could a reporter and a crew be so disgusting as to spend time waiting outside a Gay club to grab an iopportunity to destroy a life? What a whore job that must be. So now I expect you to expose those members of parliamwent who have not come out of the closet. ditto sports people, ditto entertainment people and ditto media people.

Peek A Boo says:

12:11pm | 21/05/10

You bet the labor party wont vote to ban the burka now. In fact they might buy all their sitting members one

Mike says:

12:22pm | 21/05/10

Only a journalist defending his own kind could come out with such a ridiculous and self-serving argument.  By your logic,  public servants - or anyone whose salary is paid by the taxpayer for that matter, police, teachers, nurses, etc - are equally not entitled to privacy. Today Channel 7 is spying on politicians. Who is the next target? Think of the potential for new TV shows. Instead of Motorway Patrol and RPA,  How about Cops in Brothels or Nurses Having a Naughty? The potential is enormous.

Rossco McGlashan says:

12:38pm | 21/05/10

David Campbell is gay? He is like the most hetero man out there! From his swinging singing routines to his devlish charm! I never would have thought the son of Jimmy Barnes would be gay.

Gaz says:

12:45pm | 21/05/10

You are wrong, wrong, wrong.  What a grubby and nsaty business you trade in.  Get a real job!

Rob says:

12:54pm | 21/05/10

It is no surprise that once again one of the 6:30 programs (note that I’m not referring to them as News & Current Affairs - as they clearly are not) has given in to the self-promoting agendas of their ‘investigative’ snoops. Adam Walters has clearly implied that family values and homosexuality are mutually exclusive - and in the cruelest possible way, used this as his rationale for exposing the private life of David Campbell when, in spite of popular belief, he does have a right to privacy. I mean, has DC done anything illegal? No, that club exists legally. If David Campbell did not use a government car to get there, then would one of Walter’s key arguments fall short? I have no illusions about Campbell’s performance as the NSW transport minister however I think this has set the precedent for something ugly, something that the public doesn’t need. The 2 only people that could have possibly gained from this whole scandal is Adam Walters himself and Barry O’Farrell. The moral issues lies not with Campbell, it lies with Channel 7 and their poor judgment.

Mark says:

01:00pm | 21/05/10

If the man is competent at his job, who really gives a rats arse if he attends gay clubs. I’m not saying he IS competent at his job, but as a taxpayer I say the focus should be on how he serves the taxpayer and not on his sex life. This is just a massive distraction.

Daniel says:

01:02pm | 21/05/10

David, you might sound harsh but unfortunately your right and I’m no Liberal supporter either. Both sides are as bad as each other. Penbo would you have been the same way if it was someone from the Liberal party?

Justin says:

01:04pm | 21/05/10

Anyone in public life these days can’t expect to keep secrets like this. Sad, but true. The problem is, most people have some regret that they’re not proud of, so if you rule them out, who is left pure enough to be a politician?

The quality of our politicians has already drastically declined in the last 20 years. Campbell was already an example of that - he was promoted beyond his abilities & he’s far from alone. That’s already the trend, & with the added fear of the gotcha, even fewer quality people will stick their heads up.

I firmly believe that getting Campbell away from Roads & Transport is nothing but good for the state, but the way it has happened will do long term damage in its own right.

azog says:

01:05pm | 21/05/10

This is an apologia for fleet street style gutter journalism. I hope this affair damages Seven, the Telegraph and the careers of all of the ‘journalists’ involved.

preciouspress says:

01:07pm | 21/05/10

Maybe things may not turn out that badly for David Campbell. Similar exposure hasn’t much affected the career of Alan Jones.

Steve peters says:

01:07pm | 21/05/10

David Campbell has come out of the closet because he was caught…when in public office you need to be a clean skin…the media love reporting sh..t as this sells stories and ruins lives, families and friendships..as well as a career, whether you support him like him or otherwise he was an idiot because one day he was going to get caught…Tuesday was the day!!

SM says:

01:08pm | 21/05/10

he’s completely incompetent, and if it took something like this to get rid of him, then good

David Stein says:

01:19pm | 21/05/10

Of course the press is going to come out with an article like this justifying their disgusting behaviour. 
Taking the logic of this ridiculous article, let’s subject journalists and their lives to the same scrutiny as politicians.
TV and print journalists, editors and newspaper proprietors have a huge influence on what we read and what influences us on a daily basis.  Not just politically, but the purchasing decisions we make, our social morals, our thoughts on immigrants, and across every range of matters.
Let’s investigate whether any journalist has been having adulterous affairs, is an alcoholic, might be a closet gay, is an illegal drug user, has had an abortion, or perhaps has a criminal record.
Just imagine if the blowtorch was turned their direction for once.

Michael William Lockhart says:

01:20pm | 21/05/10

David Penberthy, you have hit the nail right on the head, I could not agree with you more!!!

Tierp says:

01:48pm | 21/05/10

And so David - do you also warrant lesser degrees of privacy for the same reason - that you have a public profile?

I hope some gutter scum goes through garbage and finds some juicy, soul-destroying, career imploding, family-wrecking piece of dirt in your life and then splashes it on the web.

And don’t think their is nothing to find - we all have skeletons.

This episode is disgusting - journalists must be such pigs

Peter says:

01:51pm | 21/05/10

David Penberthy
I am struggling to see what the story is? its like a hand grenade and lest wee what is the real story here
is the inferance is an outed minister?
The F3 maybe the real story, as there seems to be different versions of events from that night Even Mr Campbell is still refuting it even his press conference today.
I actually thought Adam Walters handled it very carefully and didnt mention the word gay.
I heard you chat on 2GB today with Chris Smith, and we do live in a society where gay is not tolerated in society.
I am not the type of guy who looks gay, and i hear every day anti gay stuff everywhere in the workplace. I wouldnt come out because of these people. they prejudice other gays. I had a college comment on another collegue and confide in me. “Im worried X is gay” i thought so what. he didnt realise i was. Despite what you and Chris Smith think its not a thing of the 80’s its happening in so many places. I hear it all the time. If you dont think that there is still gay prejudice in Sydney then you must have your head in the sand. and while i want to come out, i feel my sexuality will judge what else i do in life. Im sure Mr Campbell would think the same. he probably has heard the same social and workplace prejudices and would take that as a factor in “not upsetting the people around him”

Andrew says:

01:52pm | 21/05/10

If we have a right to know everything there is to know about anyone that is paid by taxpayer dollars and is in a position of power, then we should also know everything there is to know about the people reporting on them, else how do we know we can trust those doing the reporting. Unfortunately this would result in an infinite regress, which suggests we should just leave these people to their own lives in the same way we leave those in other professions. I wouldn’t be surprised if the author has a few skeletons in the closet, and really he should air them all before we decide whether he has anything worthwhile to say. Ridiculous might be the reply, he may have very worthwhile things to say even if he enjoys all the pleasures Oxford Street has to offer, even if we are none the wiser. Surely not says the bigot.

Allan says:

02:08pm | 21/05/10

David you are simply trying to justify what you see as your right as a journalist to print whatever story your brand of trashy journalists can find to sell newspapers. I stopped buying the DT for that very reason. Everyone has a right to privacy.

Judas says:

02:14pm | 21/05/10

All that I want to know is if it was bears night at Ken’s.

The Guardian says:

02:25pm | 21/05/10

David,
“The first is that as a politician his entire existence is underwritten by the taxpaying public – his salary, his car, his living arrangements, his ability to travel, all of it is fully or partially funded by the public, and to an extent which massively eclipses the average wage earner. The second is that as a politician he wields enormous and direct power over the way we live our lives, even own financial status. 

The third is that as a politician he has chosen to project an image of himself in order to win votes”
Fascinating that you argue the complete opposite of your counter part at The Australian Ian Smith, see http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/rogues-gallery-of-ill-mannered-journalists/comments-e6frg6zo-1225868875541
Perhaps David the truth is that if you are an aspiring LNP government journalists are not entitled to scrutinize but if its a Labor government its open slather.Or is this just a News LTD philosophy.Remember the commie twitterer’s Dave! LOL

”

Ant Sharwood says:

02:26pm | 21/05/10

Yeah, yeah, yeah, but what does ERIC have to say?

JoJo says:

02:27pm | 21/05/10

If he was hetero and busted in a brothel or swingers club you would all be sniggering or saying that he is unfit blah blah blah.  Suck it up Gay community.
Stop playing the homophobe card.  The bloke is a grub.

Ex-Labour Bunny says:

02:33pm | 21/05/10

Just a few lines from the “good book”
I’m not too religious but these lines come to mind:

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone,”  - John 8: 3-7

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.  – Hebrews 13:4 (NIV)

For the reporter who broke the story, here’s a line that may haunt him later in life.

May you live in interesting times & May you come to the attention of those in authority - Chinese storyteller Kai Lung

Just remember the Chinese meant these sayings as a curse.

Aussie Expat says:

02:36pm | 21/05/10

This is nothing more than the gutter trash journalism that the majority of Austraian have come to enjoy and expcet. Info-tainment on the box, gossip magazine peddling so call public interest stories, and the major newspapers creating interest in non-events are what makes money for the media owners. Until the Australian public loses interest in this kind of crap, it will be dished up ad infinitum.

Betelnut says:

02:39pm | 21/05/10

Fair enough David. 

But the precedent is now set and I expect you to put all and everyone seeking public office, or in a position to influence government policy including media personalities, under an intensive grilling of their previously private life, without fear or favour.  If the threshold of releance is to be set so low, please refrain from calling yourselves journalists when the word Paparazzo already exisits.

dan says:

02:39pm | 21/05/10

What does happily married mean ?  Do have an insight into his family that suggests he wasn’t in a happy marriage or family arrangement ?  I’m hardly convinced his family had no knowledge of it.

julia says:

02:56pm | 21/05/10

I agree with Penbo, sychophant that I am.

Any politician or Christian who uses his family to present an image is fair fodder for the media if they’re hiding something.

For my money, Campbell’s real crimes are being complicit in keeping Labor in government in NSW.

Margaret says:

03:08pm | 21/05/10

What a crock….considering journo’s always claim to act “in the public interest” should we hold them up to a similar standard as politicians?

I gues not because if drugs, excessive alcohol, affairs, or all of the above were sackable offences in your profession there would hardly be any journos left on the Macquaire Street beat.

campbell deservs a private life so please cease your self righteous hypocrisy

Mark

Timmo says:

03:26pm | 21/05/10

I don’t know what the big problem is here. I thought that Sydney always bragged that it was the Gay Capital of the World next to San Francisco and Florida. His Wife and Family probably knew that he was leaning to the Gay Lifestyle. Women aren’t stupid are they?. They may have talked about it and had an arrangement to keep the family together. I should imagine it happens a lot.

Anyway it’s no ones business what an adult person does in their spare time apart from serious crime. Isn’t that the bedroom rule?. Maybe he shouldn’t have gone there in a government car, maybe a taxi would have been more discreet.

I don’t think he should have resigned from his job as he committed no crime against the public and being gay is not a crime. Many nice gay people out there, why the problem?.

The media are like Ogres, hiding under the bridge waiting to jump out and eat everybody. Yet if we all sniffed around their lives a bit i’m sure something would come up with them. Who’d want to be that type of journalist anyway, hardly as good as people like George Negus who always seems to lead the worthwhile stories that inform on more worthwhile subject matters.

DaveDC says:

03:27pm | 21/05/10

Your comment:
What a stupid article David. I dont agree at all. Tax payers money. Well I pay for the DT each day with $$ I earn. Does that give me the right to know about all your private details?? How else can I know if what you are writting is correct and not a waste of my money.

Andrew says:

03:28pm | 21/05/10

It doesn’t matter who pays the guy’s wages, he wasn’t abusing his (work) position so he shouldn’t have been scandalised this way.  My employer has no right to know what I do in my spare time so why do the voters of NSW have a right to know about this bloke?

andrew says:

03:29pm | 21/05/10

Your comment: Amazing how every talk back show on radio today was full of callers wanting to discuss different aspects of this story yet not one of Alan Jones’s callers did. Sure 2GB don’t screen their calls, I believe them.

interloper says:

03:45pm | 21/05/10

How reassuring to read these comments - the vast majority being sensible and reasonable. Pembo, you’re entitled to your opinion, but it should be pretty clear to you that it’s not widely shared.
All of the public interest arguments boil down to ‘if [fact we don’t know], then disclousre is in the public interest’. If his wife didn’t know. If he was there when he should have been doing his job. A journalist worthy of the name would have established these facts, and then we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
I don’t think private frequenting of sex clubs (gay or straight) makes him incompetent, or deserving of losing his job (if he’s incompetent, that’s another matter!). Public humiliation of a man for personal gain - now I think that’s a sackable offence. Channel 7?

ben says:

04:12pm | 21/05/10

This morning Walters admitted the Minister had done nothing illegal but it was “a moral question”.

Who the hell is he - or Peter Meakin - to make the the judgement.

Penbo, this story did not come to them - they made it. They followed and filmed this bloke after hours.

We have radio broadcasters and media opinion writers who daily provoke debate, refer to their family and wield enormous influence.

Given their power and enormous influence, why isnt their private life also under scrunity?

Cathy says:

04:16pm | 21/05/10

If an MP frequents the Kings Cross shooting gallery in their own time would that be a matter of public interest?

Fenton says:

04:25pm | 21/05/10

When can we have anti media day!! A day when everyone turns off the TV and radio and dare I say it the web news channels and just try to live a normal life again.

George H says:

04:27pm | 21/05/10

Kudos to you Punch Comments Team - You’ve shown no bias or selective editing unlike some other news sites and blogs. Kudos to The Comments Team not Mr Penberthy!

Steve Smith says:

04:28pm | 21/05/10

Wow ... imagine if a AFL player was “exposed” as gay! Looks like Aker was right, the media would be extremely tolerant.

alex of nsw says:

04:34pm | 21/05/10

The issue is about trust. His family couldn’t trust him, and he sure couldn’t be trusted to use a taxpayer funded vehicle. If he was open for the go nobody would care but instead he decided to lie to the people of nsw about who he really is. and when is comes to our elected officials if we cannot trust them then they shouldn’t be in the job.

Nic says:

04:35pm | 21/05/10

Do we have the right to know about the drinking and sleeping habits of those in the media as well? We purchase a product that they are paid to supply.
Maybe public servants should be accountable as well for their domestic lives after hours. their salaries are paid by the public as well.

Campbell was paid to do his job & he did it as well as any state government minister, which is a pretty low standard, going by the behaviour of the WA treasurer.

Today Tonight and A Current Afair have been guilty of the lowest level of advertorials and doorstop journolism and the normal media have been very happy to feed of it.

Timothy says:

04:40pm | 21/05/10

Considering that Mr. Campbell did nothing illegal, this is a non-issue. The people who are making a fuss about it are most likely insecure spouses. If it didn’t affect Mr. Campbell’s ability to do his job, I think he should still have his post and not have to leave on the basis of this private matter alone.

If there is an issue with the way ministerial vehicles are used, that should be an issue for the lawmakers to enact.

jim morris says:

04:55pm | 21/05/10

Until I’d thought about it I didn’t realise that I don’t really know what goes on inside a Gay sex club. Plenty of respondents seem to be familiar with gay sex clubs. Mind giving me a description so I can better consider the matter.

George H says:

04:59pm | 21/05/10

This morning I was thinking, for a country that espouses itself as being enlightened and of progressive thought - We are infact stuck in th 50’s.  But reading the majority of views here this afternoon - I have regained faith in our country again. We’re not a country over-run with bigots and judgmental neanderthals!

Steve Harrison says:

05:03pm | 21/05/10

Seems if you use a gay sex club in your limited personal time, you have to resign your position in government, but if you use your goverrnment postion for personal gain and misuse your electorate staff for personal gain (MP Michael Johnson), then your party expels you; but you can remain in parliament.
Who has committed the real crime against the community here? Great work Channel Seven, who is next on your crusade to out everyoneand anyone you don’t like….I would bet good money the Club invovled will see less and less of some very prominent and respected business and gvoernment people over the coming years!!!

Lisa says:

05:14pm | 21/05/10

The journo who did the story was engaged to Reba Meagher and the two were infamous for leaving a pub in a taxi and making the parliamentary driver wait for them for 10 hours in the carpark of GMT.
He has also violated at least two parts of the MEAA Code of Ethics. This whole thing smells of payback to me.

John Le Mez says:

05:32pm | 21/05/10

watching walters do his live report from parliament house on seven news last night was pure frontline. i understand steve barrrett “produced” the “story”. how very surprising.

Jennifer says:

05:53pm | 21/05/10

Disgusting journalistic ethics here. No, his sex life is none of our business, and the media should be ashamed of themselves for trying to defend this gutter journalism.

Chris says:

06:35pm | 21/05/10

Perhaps this is one of the reasons why we get complete wombles in politics: the unrelenting invasions of privacy they have to endure by virtue of their office.
In the meantime, the talented people we need in politics are off employing their political skills in the private sector and making big money there. In private.
Just a thought.

BTS says:

07:13pm | 21/05/10

Yesterday we hear from the media that the invasion of privacy was justified because the Minister was using his Ministerial car.

Until it was discovered he could go anywhere he wanted in the vehicle.

Today the reason has changed to the invasion of privacy was justified because the Minister presented himself as a ‘family man’.

(A side note, are homosexuals not considered family people? What if they have or adopt kids?)

People change their reasons for doing something to try and justify their actions.  It’s also a sign, that they themselves believe that they needed a stronger reason to justify their actions.  Guilt perhaps or damage control?

Caroline says:

08:03pm | 21/05/10

I have absolutely no interest in what MPs do in their own private time.

What has happened is absolutely appalling.

Where is the public interest? Are gay men less capable of performing their public duties? Using the ministerial car in a way he was entitled to? I think it is sick that you are interested in the private sex lives of politicians.

Felix says:

08:47pm | 21/05/10

The article is right in a couple of way. Firstly, if this politician USED his wife and family to sell his happy “family man” image to get votes, then he has deceived the voters and they have right to know about it as a consequence. He would not have used them in this way if he was an ethical person. Secondly, he used a taxpayer funded vehicle to drive to the gay sauna and wouldn’t have stayed in there for 2 hours if it was for just a sauna. David is right in saying the same level of controversy would have haunted him if he had walked into a brothel. Clearly the inference here is that he had an affair behind his wife’s back albeit a same-sex affair. That he has deceived his wife and the voters with this facade and that both matters are somehow supposed to be excusable because he may be gay is double standards. Those defending his actions because he may be “gay” are expecting double standards. They expect gay politicians to be given extra priveleges over and above heterosexual politicians. There are those politicians who are openly gay in various political parties and have not been subject to this sort of controversy.  They are open and honest about it.

acker says:

08:58pm | 21/05/10

I suppose it needs to be asked ..was it Jason Akermanis’s homo-erotic , homo sexual rant on the “Today Show” Thursday morning that prompted Channel 7 to run with this story on Thursday night as a response ? I notice Jason has over 400 replies to his story ...http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/stay-in-the-closet-jason-akermanis-tells-homosexuals/story-e6frf9ix-1225868871934

Tish says:

09:29pm | 21/05/10

I think this article is disingenuous. To judge someone’s private life based on what seven chooses to tell us in pursuit of a headline when he’s broken no laws is unfair. Who is to say that his sexuality is more to blame for traffic problems than the stress of his wife’s illness? That the taxpayer pays him is irrelevant as he wasn’t spending taxpayer funds. After all maybe he got a job in politics rather than a bank or a library or a caryard because he thought he could contribute something despite what our moral guardians in the media think of his sexuality. It’s easy to make judgements without knowing the full details of a situation. To protest that you have a moral right to do so is just gutter journalism.

Dingo says:

10:09pm | 21/05/10

Personally, I have no time for David Campbell based on his dismal performance as a Minister. However this story epitomises just how pathetic the so-called profession of journalism has become.

Where were the “journalists” at channel seven when Campbell and his ALP cronies were busy running NSW into the ground - when they weren’t providing coverage of Carr et al in hard hats turning the first sod in soon to be cancelled grand infrastructure projects,  they were indulging in their love fest with Kevin Rudd.

So, don’t expect any journalist in Australia to hold Rudd, Gillard, Swan or Albanese to account for their dismal performances in the roles they’re been elected to fulfill, but rest assured that if one of them or the family members takes drugs, is gay, or partakes in an orgy, we’ll be the first to know all the gory details, probably with some video footage (or re-creation if necessary). Unless of course they’re really drunk and can’t remember going to the strip joint.

In the meantime, thanks to the current standard of journalism, we’ve all been alerted to the national security issues surrounding the opposition leader participating in an iron man event in SPEEDOS. Then again, how do we know it was an iron man contest when we didn’t have Kerry O’Brien to verbal Abbott into admitting whether or not he had eaten an “iron breakfast”, and if he hadn’t, could he still consider himself an iron man contestant.

Steve says:

10:23pm | 21/05/10

as a Cityrail employee Mr Campbell as Transport Minister was my former boss, this man and his Government have had no problem invading the privacy of Cityrail employees for the last 6 years through random urine testing for illicit drugs whilst refusing themselves to submit to the same policy, i know of many hard working employees who have been sacked for smoking a joint whilst on holidays ( cannabis has a detection window of 6 weeks ) because the Government has ruled they are a safety risk, i heard Mr Campbell say many times “the public have the right to know” when talking on this issue”, so don’t Cityrail employees also being members of the public have a right to know our teachers, hospital staff and politicians are also not partaking outside of work hours?

jfc says:

10:53pm | 21/05/10

All efforts to justify the media’s coverage of this story (or rather non-story) have the same initial appearance of logic, but that facade of reason collapses under even moderate scrutiny.  The test for whether this story was legitimate is whether the same story, but without the ‘gay’ issue would have been covered in the same way, if at all?  Had David Campbell attended a strip club or even a brothel, would Channel 7 have been there?  Absolutely not.  The media and anybody else for that matter are delusional if they honestly think politicians don’t attend such venues just as frequently as other members of society.  Why should we care if a politician attends such a venue on their own time?  The line about him using his government car is hilarious - all politicians use their government vehicles to attend private engagements.  This story was only covered because it involved a male politician attending a male sex venue.  This is yet another example of a large chunk of Australian society pretending not to discriminate against a certain group and making the most absurd arguments in order to avoid being tagged as what you actually are; be it discriminatory against homosexuals or being racist.  The “David Campbell is a public figure and therefore his private life is fair game” argument is just another version of “I’m not racist, but…”.  It seems our society has evolved from upfront discrimination to defining discrimination so narrowly that the crime today is not to be discriminatory, but to admit you’re discriminatory.  As long as you hide the discrimination behind arguments devoid of reason, all is forgiven.

Steve says:

10:53pm | 21/05/10

This is written by someone going by the name of “Punch”.

Says it all really.

It is about time we started to question the credentials of our media - a media who attempt to influence the way we vote.

So where are their vested interests and why?

Australia and Australians need to become far, far more questioning - and skeptical.

What we do know is that if you place a pro Labor contribution on News Limited blogs it will not be re-produced but if the same person contributes that “Rudd is a dud” it will be re-produced.

Proven fact.

Try it - if this is not censored which it will be.

PeterinBrisbane says:

11:14pm | 21/05/10

You are quite wrong Penberthy and the people who conspired to interfere with the man’s private life are grubs.  So are those who support their view.

Robert of Rural SA says:

11:47pm | 21/05/10

To answer the ? ? ? in the head line, because he isn’t a NRL/AFL player, can beat their wives/girlfriends. get drunk, smash cars, take drugs but are shielded because they play football

George says:

12:38am | 22/05/10

Mr Penbarthy,

  I hope John Safran pays you a visit. I loved seeing Ray Martins reaction when he got some of his own treatment from John.

Tommy Hammond says:

12:45am | 22/05/10

My view on politicians right to privacy is that they are eager to give ours up that I don’t mind seeing them get a taste of their own medicine.  May seem harsh but I’m sick of having my privacy intruded and then being told its for my own good, so until politicians started taking our privacy seriously, no, they don’t deserve any entitlement to their own privacy.

DeeJay says:

01:02am | 22/05/10

I have absolutely no sympathy for David Campbell.  (1) He is a politician and he should have known he would be subjected to higher scrutiny than the average citizen (2) He is a man who has misrepresented himself to his wife, children, family and friends - how reprehensible that he CHOSE to do that (3) The most decent thing he did is resign as Transport Minister (4) The most decent thing he still can do is resign fromm public life.  I feel very sorry for his poor wife.  What sort of cancer is she recovering from?  I hope his sexual behaviour has not put her at any risk.  Anybody who condones what David Campbell has done is condoning duplicity and deceit.  David Campbell is a liar, a reprehensible liar who cannot and should not be trusted.  Zero tolerance for David Campbell.  I hope his wife and children come out of their shock with some real clarity about whether to stand by the man who has misled them for decades.  He has failed the integrity test.  He is a liar and a cheat and he will always be…

Christine J says:

01:07am | 22/05/10

If David Campbell were a female politician or female anything (s)he would be widely and ruthlessly condemned as a whore, bad mother and not fit for duty… Why should we have tolerance for this David Campbell - who overcompensates with this macho nonsense image.  If I were his wife I would definitely give him the backdoor divorce - as quickly as possible.  What an ugly mess - never mind his poor family; the real victims!!!

Tash Ross says:

01:10am | 22/05/10

Oh Please, spare me… When the Council of Civil liberties comes out you know there is a gay agenda being propogated…  David Campbell knew he was deceiving his loved ones and the contempt of those loved ones must have been obvious to people who knew his double life.  What I find sad, is not so much that he had a double life (his choice/his consequences) but that some questionable people seem to think that we live in a society that forces people to live a double life.  What a load of nonsense.  David Campbell is an adult who has made adult choices and has chosen to live a life of deceit.  As Shakespere says “what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive”.  Get out of public life David Campbell - you’re a waste of space!!!!!!

Bob Murray says:

01:16am | 22/05/10

Excuse me but while David Campbell may not have technically breached the law he has breached public.  trust by his decades of deception.  I am certain this is the last straw for Labor.  Now that premier has backtracked after her earlier comments that he (David) “misrepresented himself to his family” by living a lie she is now aware of the gay agenda and not wanting to lose the gay vote.  Sorry Labor - it’s over.  Labor will definitely lose the next election.  How much seedier can labor politics get?

Pablo says:

02:17am | 22/05/10

Why is it that he is not a family man? Yes, he and his wife obviously have some issues but that does not mean he does not love her, nor his children. And I am sure he loves her for being mother to his children as well. Just another tabloid journo pathetically trying to justify gutter standards. Journalists are THE most accountable mob in our society.

David says:

02:59am | 22/05/10

Integrity is important. David you present as a man with a nice smile. Are you? Before you are allowed to write articles which influence public opinion what rights do the public have to know if you are all that you appear to be?  You are writing about politics. In the interests of disclosure I want to know who you vote for. You are writing about sex I would like to know who you have had sex with. This information will help me place your writings in context.

Lakes Shore says:

04:26am | 22/05/10

This is all politically driven; a vain attempt by the media to justify it’s own existence. None of what has been said, gives any media outlet, permission to blatantly destroy a family. What any Minister, either Federal or State, does in their spare time, in their homes, is their business. Is the media trying to justify this rubbish because they have been caught out? This is no way, I could/would ever believe that any Australian could stoop this low, at the expense of destroying another family. I sincerely hope, that this does not come back and bite the media on the bum, for it will and it will bite hard!!!

Andrew says:

05:12am | 22/05/10

It is only the daffy desire the public has to mentally elevate normal human beings to supernormal status that creates such situations: how pathetically prone we are to think prime ministers shit marble. How hypocritical it is to demand a higher standard of behaviour than our own.

Tina says:

07:10am | 22/05/10

Excerpts from media code of ethics ...

Many journalists work in private enterprise, but all have these public responsibilities. They scrutinise power, but also exercise it, and should be accountable. Accountability engenders trust. Without trust, journalists do not fulfil their public responsibilities. MEAA members engaged in journalism commit themselves to:
Honesty
Fairness
Independence
Respect for the rights of others

Code of Ethics point 2:
Do not place unnecessary emphasis on personal characteristics, including race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation, family relationships, religious belief, or physical or intellectual disability.

Tweed Heckler says:

08:12am | 22/05/10

Let’s not forget the grubby, extended persecution of the late John Marsden by Channel Seven.  The Campbell episode only adds to the catalogue of nasty media chicanery perpetrated by Seven against people whose private life has tabloid capital.  The claim that this network is not homophobic is very hard to sustain. 

David Campbell had and has some personal issues yet to be resolved with his family.  As far as it is known, the question of his sexual preference and behaviour has not effected his performance as a Minister or MLA.  This story has nothing to do with the public interest.  It is merely sensationalist. slimy commercial media reporting at its worst.  Premier Keneally touched on a very salient point in her recent media interview about this matter: what kind of a society are we when one of our citizens feels the need to lead such a life as David?  The shrill cries of people like Bill Heffernan and Franca Arena over the last couple of decades regarding the private lives of members of the judiciary are just one example of how highly evolved we are in our acceptance of sexual difference and diversity.  The suggestion that we are a truly open and accepting society is a pretence. 

The political demise of John Brogden as a consequence of atrocious media attack is another case in point - it resulted in his attempted suicide.  The ‘outing’ of a NSW Supreme Court Judge under parliamentary privilege by Franca Arena, then an MLC, arguably contributed to Mr Justice Yeldam’s suicide.  The risk of having blood on their hands does not seem to phase the commercial media.

For one, I’d like to hear the views of retired Justice Michael Kirby on this issue: unquestionable, we would get wise, measured advice.

Renee says:

09:14am | 22/05/10

When you become a politician, you accept that public scrutiny goes along with the job.  It has to.  If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, as Campbell has done.  If he was so concerned about his family and his reputation, he would have mustered up a bit of self-controlin the first place, except we don’t talk of terms like that any more, do we?

Bruce says:

09:30am | 22/05/10

Political figures leading secret lives leave themselves open to coercion and that impacts us all. Channel 7 was right to expose this individuals duplicity. If he had come out already, no problem, but acting this way he was a threat to the government and the people of NSW.

Paul says:

10:00am | 22/05/10

‘Happily married with children’ is the way some of you chose to perceive it. It doesn’t mean you were conned in anyway and shouldn’t effect your vote. If I’m interviewing someone for a job I can’t ask if they’re gay or straight - it doesn’t come into it and ultimately has nothing to do with their capacity to work.

Geoff says:

10:12am | 22/05/10

Anyone in the public service is paid by taxpayers.
Any highly paid public servant or department head makes decisions that affect our lives.  Same with Architects, City Planners, or anyone involved with dealing with the public in large numbers.
Your sexuality and your decisions involving it is only one persons private business.
This is just stalking at it’s worst.  Outing the guy was the most pathetic destructive invasion and exposure of this mans most private life.
I don’t think anyone deserves this sort of behaviour and I’m sure you and I and most Australians wouldn’t welcome it.

LFG says:

10:14am | 22/05/10

I totally agree with David Penberthy and Channel 7. Campbell is a disgrace. If it were not for the media, governments would be full of sleaze-bags. Most politicians are aware of their duties and reponsibilities. Campbell is the worst of the worst. Even as an individual, Campbell has been acting in a completely unnatural, perveted manner. Homosexuality is not right just because an indulgent and self-destructive society thinks that any sort of behaviour is OK these days.

Chris says:

11:09am | 22/05/10

This is a load of rot and is typical of the gutter mentality that has become our media. I wonder if Channel 7 were stalking David Campbell or do they park outside every gay establishment every night instead of gathering news stories in a more honourable way.  Forget used car salesmen and lawyers - journalists are really the lowest of the low.

Harquebus says:

11:25am | 22/05/10

How is it that an editor can think that one person has more rights than another? This society is going backwards courtesy of mainstream media.

Jack says:

11:28am | 22/05/10

Just because someone puts their name on a ballot paper every four years doesn’t mean that they are somehow superhuman or puritan. They are still normal people with all the excesses, frailties, complications and vices of everyone else.

It is a total nonsense to suggest that just because you are a politician, somehow there is a higher standard expected. A total crock. You keep pushing that line and you will keep getting the incompetent freaks we have now.

If a politician goes to a brothel, so what?? How does it affect what he does?

And all this, we pay for them, the taxpayer underlines everything- just smacks of envy. Politicians are lowly paid and have to put up with this gutter journalism stuff. Who cares if we pay for their car and salary? They are politicians- they deserve to have those luxuries- we voted for them.

Sorry, Dave, but you lost me today, mate. Expected better from you.

Tim says:

11:36am | 22/05/10

More important issues need to be reported on, or even try a positive story for a change. Sensationalism is not the same when you have become conditioned by it. Sensationalism has suffered from overexposure.

I know how he feels I have experimented with my own sexuality while living a heterosexual life, mainly single, and been caught out by “ex-friends”...Most intelligent people don’t give a rat’s arse. But there are fools in this world and their opinion counts aswell, too bad for me they use physical intimidation before any attempt at understanding and negotiation.

A person should be judged on their actual contribution to their own lives and to society not by, perception…Many social issues would be resolved if en-masse together we succeeded in changing this.

The ‘messenger’ IS the cause of pressure and the consequences resulting from a serious lack of nobility.

If David Campbell commits suicide, channel 7 should be held accountable.

Grow up and get outside, yourself.

Kev says:

11:36am | 22/05/10

What a weak article this is. You say he was a hopeless Minister but fail to mention that he oversaw the implementation of myzone last month which appeared flawless considering the operational complexity it involved.  He also implemented several operational reforms in Police but why bother focusing on facts when it is so much quicker and easier to sensationalise. I’ll never read anything you write again. As for Adam Walters and Channel 7, what can I say? tabloid trash is not descriptive enough. Australia is blessed to have a free press and that’s a freedom that needs to be cherished and respected but when it is abused like this we’ll end up getting the politicians and risk averse policies that are way below par. shame on channel 7 and shame on you.

Jon G says:

11:40am | 22/05/10

You mention four reasons why he is entitled to a lesser level of privacy. Anyone who has ever required a security clearance (all ADF members and many government employees and contractors) can give you a fifth. I have been asked a number of times about my sexual preference and proclivities, gambling habits, alcohol and drug consumption, as have referees on my behalf. The purpose is not to embarrass,  but to prevent a person being compromised by bribery or blackmail. This is even more important for a politician who wields enormous influence. I dismiss any suggestion of privacy for public figures who have such influence, unless there is evidence that they have disclosed potentially embarrassing information to appropriate agencies, and anyone else the information could affect.

David says:

11:43am | 22/05/10

David, this is woeful reporting. You should be ashamed to be involved with this story.
The fact that some sleezebag was filming these men leaving the club from the back of a van, is sickening.
Attacking this guy under the premise of misusing a government vehicle is a joke. No wonder most younger generation Australians find people like yourself and channel 7 to be old-hat, laughable excuses for media representation. You are dying breed, thank-god for social media.

RMS says:

11:45am | 22/05/10

Kristina says he’s welcome back. Could someone please explain to me, if his wife couldn’t trust him, why should I?

Linda says:

12:23pm | 22/05/10

His greatest sin was using a government car.  It wouldn’t have been so bad if he travelled in a private vehicle.

Blossom says:

12:24pm | 22/05/10

I am in N.S.W I don’t what disgusted me more, that this story was aired and hurt an innocent family or that a N.S.W Politician was in the spolight again.
Personally my only concern is what they are doing to our state, they can bonk whoever they want after hours. But the way things are shaping up we seem to be getting a great variety of different types of sex scandles and I would making sure the animals in the zoo are locked up securly because that seems to be the only deviation missing out of Labors bag of tricks.
I am not watching channel 7 because I think of the misery and pain that family went through. I am not homophobic, I belive each to own, that his concern not mine. But once again I keep thinking of that poor woman battling with cancer and I just feel disgusted with channel 7

Alan says:

12:30pm | 22/05/10

Why didn’t Campbell just say he couldn’t remember what happened but there was nothing you wouldn’t see in any Aussie pub yet told the mrs over cup of tea he’d been a bit of a goose?

It’s not as if he travelled to NYC as the alternative government min for foreign affairs on taxpayers’ tab, got pissed out of his mind, visited a mob-tied sex club (and front for prostitutes) where women are paid to strip and perform simulated and real sex for money, in order to ingratiate himself with his companion.

Colin says:

12:36pm | 22/05/10

Channel 7 have done David Campbell’s family the biggest favor possible. This man has been living a lie for 20 years. How would you feel if your partner had been living a lie and frequenting sex parlours (gay or straight) for up to 20 years behind your back. This is not a family man as the media is now trying to portray. This man is lower than a snakes belly. If he never had the honesty to face his family how could we ever trust him as a politician. No doubt his failure to comeout was driven by concerns on how it would effect his political career than any concerns he may have had for his family. The best and only honest thing he ever could have done for his family was to leave. Do not pity this man he has had the best of both worlds for too long. Not fit for any job let alone politics

Stefano says:

12:55pm | 22/05/10

Exellent oped David.  I think you are 100% correct.  However I would go even further.  The real scandal is that this man deceived his wife for 20 years.  This means that he is a person who must have lied on numerous occasions to cover up his secret.  The fact that he was a closet gay is inconsequential.  The real issue is that people who lie cannot be trusted.  Kristina Kenneally must think we are dumb, stupid, and ignorant if she wants us to think that this is news to her.  Give me a break.  She, with those other stellar liars, Tripodi and Obeid, elevated Campbell to a position of trust.  He was a Minister of the Crown, and he treated the Crown with contempt.  Channel 7 should be congratulated for highliting yet again, another monumental train wreck within this pathetic excuse of a government.  As soon as the Liberals win government, there should be a royal commission into the mechinations of the ALP, and all persons who have abused their positions of power should be charged.

mal says:

01:31pm | 22/05/10

The way channel 7 went about this is pretty wrong. That being said this needed to be brought to public attention. The minister was in a previlidge position that would have been suseptable to black mail - as he was keeping this double life a secret from his family. Additionally if he is prepare to deceive his family - the ones he loves most - what is he prepare to do when put into a difficult position in the work environment. His integrity has been shot to pieces.

JOhn says:

01:41pm | 22/05/10

People who support what Channel 7 did, do so becauses it taps into their homophobia and confirms their thinking that gay men are reckless, sleazy and can’t be trusted. The misuse of a ministerial car has shown to be false yet this is what led the original story. The issue of family values is wrong. Campbell never campaigned on a platform of family values so there is no lie there related to his political life.  He is a loving husband and father and is allowed to be proud of his family, hence, the photo in the christmas cards. The argument that he was at risk for blackmail when he was police minister is based on a hypothetical in the past tense. It’s an absurd argument and means we should be following every former police minister around with a camera to see what they get up to.

CJ says:

01:53pm | 22/05/10

It’s simple, he lived a lie. If he lived a lie, can he be trusted to run a major ministerial portfolio honestly? Not in my mind. He was quite happy to promote himself as one thing in order to help him get elected. Now it is finally on the public record that that image of his life was fiction. To be honest, I’m thankful that we finally get to see the back of him as a minister. He was incompetent and wasted massive amounts of public money through his incompetence. He was in way over his depth. How many more labor members of state parliament will suffer the same fate before the entire party gets trashed at the next election? If only the liberals hadn’t put that idiot Debnam into the leadership of the party before the last election, they would have been in power now and none of this would have happened.

Mick says:

02:42pm | 22/05/10

Bruce says “If he had come out already, no problem”
Well there is a reason why so many Gay or Bi-Sexual men don’t come out and that is because of societies attitude towards gay and bi-sexual men. Society is more acceptable towards 2 women than it is to 2 men having sex. Thankfully not all of society are bigots but there is a large percentage that still is and always will be. That is the real sad thing about this.

Lesley Kilroy says:

03:37pm | 22/05/10

That’s bullshit Davis has as much right as everyone else for privacy. I have no time for Bath & Walters and channel 7. Low scum reporting

Labor is bad says:

04:06pm | 22/05/10

NSW Labor, Federal Labor government, PM Rudd, Ministers Campbell/Roxon/Garrett all leave a slimy, sick aftertaste after being in government. Yuck!

Lester says:

04:39pm | 22/05/10

The bottom line has not been addressed in this debate!  The overwhelming evidence (psychiatric and psychological) is that anything that anyone does in private life inevitably affects that individual’s public behaviour/performance/judgement for better or worse and vice versa!!! Unfortunately many people in responsible occupations are in misguided denial about this fact of life!  Numerous workers compensation cases ,successful and failed, feature this truism!

Andrew says:

04:43pm | 22/05/10

yes i agree politicians need to be held to a higher standard and scrutiny than the rest of us, but this was too far. firstly, it has been proven that he was not attending the venue on the night of the F3, one of the reasons ch 7 felt is necessary to publish this. Second, ch 7 didnt know any details about his marriage before posting this. they assumed his wife did not know. while it is almost always the case, it is not a given his wife would have known. ch 7 (and the daily telegraph yesterday mind you) claimed that he had done the wrong thing by using his ministerial car to drive himself there. ch7 have backed away from this claim now and are sticking the with public image bs real image story for publishing. There is no rule against using his car for this purpose. it was not during his work time. it was during his personal time. he was not drunk. did not break the law. excused his driver.
he , as a politician should be scrutinised more but this was over the line and no one deserves this kind of treatment, to imply otherwise is shameful. ch7 deserve everything they get. it was a disgrace and a sad indightment on the state of the australian media.

Jean says:

06:29pm | 22/05/10

Gay meeting saunas are as sleazy as it gets. One step above a public toilet. Its nothing to do with homophobia, its the same as any other minister went to a brothel.  The man thought he was above scrutiny to be that indiscete in his person life. Thats what happen when power goes to peoples heads.

Peter says:

06:54pm | 22/05/10

David, sorry I am going to disagree with you. I like journo’s but sometimes they can come up with any excuse to breach someone’s privacy. There was no suggestion this man was performing poorly because of this. I think the issue of NSW’s poor government and this man’s private life are two seperate matters. No one has a right to out someone before their time, these are complicated issues and im sure most journo’s appreciate this.

shelley mcdonald says:

08:50pm | 22/05/10

i am so sorry for this man - and his family - and i am disgusted at the levels that journailsts seem to be sinking to these days…... there is no integrity in the media anymore - no standards either…. what a horrible profession….... to say it is inteh public interest is a cop-out of the highest order…...

jj says:

09:22pm | 22/05/10

I would like to see this kind of scrutiny turned to the reporters who follow these ppl just to see if they have the right to throw stones!!!

Jonathon Troy says:

09:45pm | 22/05/10

Politicians are not the only ones who’s ” entire existence is underwritten by the taxpaying public”. We could add public servants and judges and of course the police.
These people lead lives that are average and common as everyone else.
I feel that there is a danger that “journalists” will claim they have less of a right to privacy because they happen to draw a pay cheque for their services from the government.
For the record Campbell’s life is more information than we required. His activities involved consenting adults. He used a car that came as part part of his salary packg.
Media watch (you know your friends Penbo) will have a feast on this information.

Sue says:

09:46pm | 22/05/10

The public having a right to know is a far cry from the sensationalist rubbish channel 7 has been peddling this week.  If the double life made him vulnerable to manipulation or blackmail that’s one thing, but there are ways to expose what needs to be exposed. The way this was handled was disgusting. As others have said, is there no gutter too deep for our media these days?

Fed up says:

10:40pm | 22/05/10

I haven’t discussed this matter at all because I think one’s life is what they’d like to do. If it is not illegal I don’t care…but there are one issue in this story that is uncomfortable to me. One is that a man is happy to parade his family around as a paragon of virtue and at night go to a gay bar behind their back. That is not on. The duplicity and lies are not ok. I would much rather have a great gay politician than one who actually pretends to be heterosexual and is something he is not….
If he was a doctor, architect, whatever…He would not have the public interest in his life which he now has. Instead he is a Pollie who has used his family life to present a family man background. I don’t really care that he is gay. But I care that he treats his electorate to his lies. There is no need for that right now.
In the end this is a minor story. He is gone and he should. Not because he is gay, but because he is pretty bad at what he does. Yet he continues to be a MP, and probably would be reelected, which would prove to him that we are not narrow-minded as he might suppose we are. That is what his lies suggest. An that is what bothers me.
Now is it possible for the NSW politics to become better? Is it possible for the people to be treated with more respect from their political class?? It is really asking too much??

Teri says:

10:41pm | 22/05/10

I believe that politicians should be charged on how well they perform in their job and not what they do privately.I find this incredible that an ordinary citizen can be gay, go to a brothel, watch porn etc, but a politician has to resign when the media discovers he visited a gay club. If he doesn’t do well in his job, he needs to resign. People he represents will judge.  I do not believe it is in the interest of the public that the media charges people on their sexual preferences.

Laurie says:

10:48pm | 22/05/10

The arguments advanced for the reporting of the the parliamentarians private actions appears to me to be useful.

The most compelling arguments advanced appear to be those focussed on:
1. The inconsistency between his personal commitments and his private behaviour, and the apparent flexibility around important commitments his acceptance of the inconsistency suggests may that he may have for his behaviour as a public officer.
2. The values of the officer as portayed by his behaviour may be different to the understanding had, however formed, by his electors.

While we are attracted to the story for obvious reasons it seems that our reaction is not inconsistent to that recently accorded to another parliamentarian in less challenging (for reasons of commerce and gender) circumstances.

For any public servant to be considered of deserving the same treatment (your argument 1) there would seem to be an acceptance that no one is entitled to any privacy or right of redress in respect of the evidence gathering activities of the media.

The vulnerability of a public officer created by his behaviour, or the risk to the public posed by a senior officer (your argument 2) merits being addressed however there are methods established for addressing them other than immediate public reporting.

The “ends justifies the means” (your argument 4) suggests that we should “out” the officer because of our general dissatisfaction with the sitting government. I hope that you have not intended this interpretation.

bryan says:

11:19pm | 22/05/10

Who cares who he roots it the fact he has rooted his portflio that upsets me.

Roland says:

11:56pm | 22/05/10

For those who are ignorant, it is perfectly possible to have a loving relationship and a happy marriage, yet still need the occasional gay experience. It’s called being bisexual, an orientation that is much more common than many would have you believe.
A sexual liaison carries an implicit privacy contract. Unless there is some criminal behaviour involved, it should be an offence to break that contract without the explicit permission of both parties.

non judgemental says:

01:51am | 23/05/10

I feel sorry for the bloke.

The only issue I feel sad about is that in this society, he felt he couldn’t be who he was.

Vin says:

09:29am | 23/05/10

David, absolutely right your report, not buts or perhaps clauses or excuses with your points. Now , apart of what you wonderfully described, it’s the fact that the Guy lied not only to his constituents but he lied to the written law which states in any document signed in Australia, you might be prosecuted for not telling the truth & that action here, was hided for 20 years, it is a clear example violating the law. Now, because still embedded, in the Australian culture, its roots of Convict & Soldier society, which ended in 1904, where in those times no matter what horrendous thing would happened nobody would DOB anybody, nowadays, still very enforced in its society the same, you don’t DOB nobody sort of thing. Add to that, the fact that the commies (Labor worshippers), don’t have dignity & principles, a lie for commies it’s in their DNA; for them, one of his mate lies its okay but not okay for the opposition. Example, Abbott suggested politicians might say something extra in the heat of a discussion, Labor heralded his comments & labelled him as a liar, but the big lie done by the Minister its not a lie but a treason, a coward action done by a reporter, who did not have any sympathy & did not respected the Minister’s privacy, Labor Minister who was entitle to lie all the way along at all times for 20 years and that suggestion its sucks.

jim says:

09:30am | 23/05/10

Politics and personal morality:
(1) Sometimes the media and public happily accept the public facade of a politician, and may even help create a larger-than-life fake personna.  We may admire and verbalise this aspect concerning current politicians or great figures from the past.  History is kind to some, whose mistakes and defects become glossed over. Yet for others the media and individuals or society at large will do all they can to destroy the mask.  For some we demand transparency. Sometimes success follows a degree of ruthlessness that may be accepted if certain political niceties are outwardly espoused for political correctness. We accept arrogance and egotistical behaviour from some personalities but not others.  Flaws are even admired in some as they may appear more appealingly human despite their lofty ability, yet others can’t get away with similar blemishes.

Would Tiger Woods-type behaviour be acceptable for a minor politician, but not for a Police Minister, Premier, Treasurer or Prime Minister?  Would past cheating on tax or in personal business deals be accepted if the person could assure us he or she was always honest in public life? Does regular deceit in one walk of life imply a character flaw that perhaps says that person may be more likely to lie or cheat or bend the truth in other areas like political life or public employment?  It seems at times that personal sins in politicians are “acceptable” or ignored so long as things are going well for us pesonally or the economy and national affairs in general.

jim says:

09:30am | 23/05/10

(2)Are we all so flawed that “anything goes” in politicians personal behaviour provided they get results?  Obviously not, but the line we draw is not fixed or even clearly definable.  We’ll sometimes accept that personal transgressions are off the public record and not relevant.  An affable, likeable, attractive personality can get away with things an austere or less agreeable politician can’t.  The talented and winners can get away with more than those who are struggling politically.  If the public “needs” the polticician or leader, such as in times of crisis or war, then personal foibles will be more readily forgiven. We may turn a blind eye to known wheelers and dealers who have murky morals but who are achievers until misdeeds are made so public that we become affronted by them.  We are tougher on women than men, and easier on those following an agenda we agree with.  We may expect more of those from different racial groups or perceived lower social class.  Sometimes the public expect more of those of declared religious belief who make a point of aspiring to a high moral ground.  We may be tough on those who preach morality along the way.  Sometimes we’ll be strangely forgiving of fallen moral campaigners for at least trying to have goals, even if they can’t live up to them.  Others will be brought down.

jim says:

09:33am | 23/05/10

(3)We expect that all politicians use the truth at times in a very rubbery way such that we recognise anything goes up to an unclear limit. They all use “white lies” and linguistic tricks to justify deceit under utilitarian concepts of acting for a greater good, often with an “I know best what the community needs” attitude.  Partly it is just an “everyone does it” attitude that such twisting of the truth is part of the game of politics. They may feel the need to get things done any way they can, even if it means being untruthful here and there along the way.  If that means having to help lobby groups or others who can “scratch their back” and help their agenda, so be it. Personal gain along the way be it financial, social or political may seem totally justified.  The end result may require doing deals. Isn’t being beholden to others due to patronage just par for the course?  We expect a (an inconsistent) level or morality from politicians and community leaders, but also demand and reward results.  We don’t always get both.

Mel says:

10:54am | 23/05/10

In one way I can see your point. I wouldn’t want to vote for someone who used prostitutes for example because I think that behaviour is exploitative and unethical, so it’s something I would appreciate knowing before I voted for someone. However, I disagree in this case specifically because being gay is not a crime and I can understand how difficult it can be for people to ‘come out’. If society were not still so judgemental of gays and lesbians then people wouldn’t need to lie, cheat and sneak around on their families or be forced to live the lie of ‘family life’ in the first place. I have empathy for both Campbell and his family for that reason and I think the media could have thought more critically on that aspect before they indulged themselves in sensationalist, money-grabbing ‘journalism’.

Tony says:

10:58am | 23/05/10

“Ken’s Sauna & Gym” at Kensington could never afforded such business generating publicity.

Keeper of the Crystals says:

11:02am | 23/05/10

Unfortunatey, this just goes to show that a reporter of whatever persuasion who has a touch of the vitriole, can do untold, uncalled for damage to whomever they chose. The fact that Mr Campbell appeared to have a happy family lifestyle is all that should have mattered. For all the rabid reporter knew, his wfe may well have been aware of his other lifestyle. Why then, should this rabid reporter go to great lengths to publicize the issue.  There are some boundaries that should not be crossed and to my mind the Channel 7 reporter overstepped that boundary. Everyone should have the right to their privacy. If said reporter found that an executive of Channel 7 entered the premises whilst he was filming the location, how much publicity would that get? Self protection!!!! Take a look in the mirror sunshine.

Maddi says:

11:28am | 23/05/10

If you think politicians give away their rights to privacy when they go into the game what do you think about a website being invented that is a register for all people involved in public politics including journalists, writers, lecturers, columnists too?  Don’t you think it might be in the “public interest” to know their particular sexual gender (there is a wide variety of choices these days especially if you take into account any sexual fetishes), who their partners are/were and what they do, their drug and drinking habits, where they hang out with friends after work and most importantly what their views are on the price of fish in Russia or of rice in China.

I’ve heard a juicy rumour recently about a tv personality who has overcome a coke habit and it seems to be general knowledge around town amongst still struggling fellow buyers - are the newsroom holding off on that footage and story until the personality really and truly falls from grace?  Of course it’s no-one’s business or right to make it public.  Interesting times we live in.

Kenneth says:

11:52am | 23/05/10

I think its funny that there is an actual place called ‘Ken’s’. Any place called Ken’s has got to be dodgy. What next? Gary’s?

roy says:

05:06pm | 23/05/10

Couldent have said it better

Linda Campbell says:

05:43pm | 23/05/10

David Penberthy, you are absolutely right in saying that politicians are not accorded the same level of privacy as the rest of us nor should they be.  As politicians they are subject to ongoing scrutiny - that comes with the job.  David Campbell is no different to any other politician.  Why should he get special treatment.  Chanell 7 were right to expose the man for what he is; a man leading a tragic double life, misleading his family, friends and the general public with an image he has carefully cultivated to cover up his secret life.  What I am vermently opposed to is these stupid politicians who are too scared to say an unsupportive comment about David Campbell in case they lose the ‘Gay Vote’.  How pathetic.  David Campbell has deceived everybody.  In the end, he even deceived himself.  Please quite making this David Campbell a matyr.  He is an adult and fully responsible for his “choices” and their consequences.  No sympathy for David Campbell whatsoever - only his poor family!

Brett L says:

06:44pm | 23/05/10

The biggest discrimination tool is not gay, black, white, muslim, or jewish. The biggest prejudice/discrimination tool is perfectly PC. It’s wealth: poor VS rich. We can legally and proudly separate people based on money. poor to the rear, rich to the front. Funny thing is, the majority are in the poor class, so who is holding the reign’s on this?  The rest is a diversion, the real issue is wealth distribution.

Jessie says:

10:22pm | 23/05/10

Are you KIDDING? Anybody who thinks they needed to know this are nosy busybodies, that simple. Case closed.
There is a world of difference between something the public NEEDS to know and something they just WANT to know because they are gossip mongers.
If the things he is doing in his public life affect his ability to do his job, then AND ONLY THEN should we hear boo about it.
What a joke some of you disgusting, self entitled people are.

Jozef Goj says:

10:40pm | 23/05/10

It’s not the sex scandals that are so important as the fact that media and readers consider the double standards used by these persons to be a reflection of their working capabilities. We already know the type of thing with the latest Abbot release of ‘pork pies’ when not scripted!
We expect a high standard and should be entitled to have it. When moral crusaders are found flagrenti delecto, caught in the act, it shows their followers for the fools they are. Of more concern is the scandal that this minister is and was considered to be ineffective. The F3 debacle just an example. Of greater scandal is that this Minister and Premier along with others in the past ignore a remedy that the public have been clamouring for for years. A solution to the traffic jams congestion and gridlock occurring in our cities every day. That solution, Liquid Flow, traffic which once again was sent to the current Premier some 6 weeks ago, was responded to with a few lines and referred to the Transport Minister who had a copy of the letter anyway and who will now never respond.  The Telegraph would have this letter in its news file if it has not been deleted. So now once again Liquid Flow has to be started again, with the usual delays in communication, while the commuter continues to rage against the inefficiency of government department s that are unable and do not have the technology or foresight to see not just a solution to the problems of jams gridlock and congest but the only possible and logical solution. The commuter with this solution will be more than happy to drive in free flow traffic never stopping at a single intersection and laugh when hearing on the radio of the latest sex scandals of the latest politician caught with his pants down!

PM says:

12:18am | 24/05/10

“It will probably sound disingenuous but I feel sympathy and pity for Campbell; his private life has been rendered a mess by his inability to reconcile his sexuality, and he has paid an enormous price as what he did is in no way corrupt or criminal.”

How do you know he has been “unable to reconcile his sexuality”? How he feels about his sexuality and what his wife, possible other partners and family knew are none of our business - no matter what your other arguments are.

'gonger says:

12:33am | 24/05/10

Thank you Channel 7 for ‘outing’ some truths to the Wollongong constituents.  I don’t feel sorry for a Minister listed to own around 8 properties yet has to have his own mother living in a [reasonably new] NSW Dept of Housing unit.  I feel more sorry for the many genuinely needy families who have been on the Housing Dept waiting list for decades.

Roland says:

01:00am | 24/05/10

In such a sexualized society it surprises me that such a big deal is made of sexual indiscretions. Most people have made them.
Nobody should be able to be blackmailed for such behaviour. We need to take a more relaxed view of the whole sex thing.

Bill Clinton was not impeached because Monica gave him a head-job. It was because he lied about it to Congress, as they knew he would, as they know everybody does. It seems natural for people to lie in one way or another when “caught out” in such circumstances. The want to cover up, to minimize, BECAUSE such a big deal is made of it.

However, if we took a more relaxed, mature view of such things….if people could just say,“Oops, sorry , Dear. Didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, but I know you will understand. Just thought I’d better tell you , as I’m going to be admitting to a head-job from Monica this afternoon.”

If we could do that, then all this stuff about blackmail would evaporate. And more than that, most of the titillation would also disappear. If everyone could just say, “So what!” then it would all just become a big “So what!”

Maybe we should work towards that.

Gavin Hines says:

11:11am | 24/05/10

We all to pause for thought on this, I think this is a perfect example of how manipulative the press can be. I am in N.S.W I won’t be voting for Labor but not because of this man and his poor wife but because I am not happy with the way they are running our state. I have no desire to watch channel 7 again, to me this is gutter jouralism

Just Me says:

11:47am | 24/05/10

I have no problem with David Campbell’s sexuality, but I do have a problem with him being a minister ,both Police and Transport ministers.He has left himself open to blackmail.  As a previous Police Minister, who knows what pressures he had placed on him by unsavory characters. As the Mayor of Wollongong some years ago,one wonders if he was placed in compromising situations ,especially as it was no secret to the union movement.

Infense says:

11:55am | 24/05/10

I think Penbo has the wrong end of the stick here. While an MP does have a ‘lesser right to privacy’ I do not see why this should have been made public - at least in the way it was. It is drawing a very a long bow to say it affects his ability to be an effective MP. If the MP in question was on a moral’s crusade then it could have public relevance in revealing hypocrisy and lack of credibility. Also it is probably best not to compare brothels with saunas. I am quite sure they are not the same thing.

Dave says:

01:15pm | 24/05/10

No matter how you try and justify it journalsim in this country has hit new lows. We are now on a par with the gutter press of England. Well done media. His private life is in no way shape or form of any relevance whatsoever unless he was at this place when he should have been working and it in some way hindered his performance in his job. If not then it is irrelevant and you people should be ashamed of your selves. Tabloid gutter press - disgusting.

hot tub political machine says:

03:28pm | 24/05/10

You know, in my profession, if I had brought as much disrepute upon the profession as channel 7 reporters have brought on journalism I would be facing censure from our professional body.

But then again journalism is the only profession with decling rather than improving standards.

Graham The Great says:

06:26pm | 24/05/10

Open your eyes people, the reason is not because this man is gay, goes to gay bath houses or whatever, who cares, the reason is an elected member of a House of Parliament!  Whether it is or whether it isn’t for whatever reason his integrity is the issue!

Luke says:

03:19pm | 25/05/10

What a load of tripe!  It doesn’t matter what you do or who pays you, everyone is entitled to some form of privacy.  Campbell chose to engage in a legal, if not socially popular, activity that has nothing to do with the rest of us.  It is possible to have integrity, particularly political integrity and frequent gay clubs.  Where are the gay activists now? Too busy jumping all over Ackermanis I suspect.  Funny, but his sentiments have more of a ring of validity about them in light of this episode.

This judgemental, ill informed finger pointing is out of control and very dangerous.  The only integrity that should be in question here is that of an ever hungry press and the so called ‘journalists’ who stalked the man to break the story.  Shame on them and I hope this doesn’t go any further than ruining the mans career.  Make no mistake it has the potential to do so much more.