Australian pols aren’t as puritanical as their American counterparts – or as perverted as the British. Our media is less prurient. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate our great political sex scandals – alleged or otherwise.
Australian pols aren’t as puritanical as their American counterparts – or as perverted as the British. Our media is less prurient. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate our great political sex scandals – alleged or otherwise.

Here are just a few highlights of 35 years of political sex scandals – and there must be a lot more to come. Crikey readers know where the bodies are buried – and where the bodies have been, er, in very close contact. Send your scandals through to hillarybray@crikey.com.au .

1960’s

John Gorton and Ainsley Gotto – bum wiggling causes a sensation a generation before Sara-Marie.

Former South Australian Labor Premier and good Catholic family man Frank Walsh dies on the job on the Gold Coast.

1970’s

Jim Cairns and Juni Morosi – hippie love.

Bob Hawke and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and…

Don Dunstan and John Ceruto – pink shorts and hash cookies.

While Don-baby is hard at the, the unfortunately named State Governor and Uniting Church minister Keith Seaman is enjoying trysts with prostitutes in a grotty suburban motel.

1980’s

Billy Snedden dies on the job – remember Truth and the “loaded” condom.

Big Mal appears sans trousers in Memphis, Tennessee.

Former minister and Liberal Deputy Leader Neil Brown – a lawyer who forgot the precedent set in the case of Oscar Wilde.

1990’s

Queensland Labor MHR, Baptist lay preacher and anti-pornography campaigner Keith Wright goes down for ministering to the young in an inappropriate manner.

Senator Bob Woods learns that thou shalt not covert Joe Hockey’s staff. Michael Photios, the love rat of Macquarie Street, is subjected to tabloid terror by the Telegraph.

Kennett Minister Ian Smith works a little too closely with his chief of staff.

2000’s

Bright young hope of the New South Wales right Joe Tripodi can’t keep the lid on his lunchbox.

One time deputy Queensland Labor leader Bill D’Arcy goes down for his unorthodox sex education classes.