An Australian politician was rushed to hospital yesterday after trying to commit suicide, in a shocking twist to a travel claims abuse scandal that has rocked both sides of Australian politics. The Labour opposition finance spokesman, Mr Nick Sherry, was in a stable condition in a Canberra hospital after slashing his wrists in an attempt to end his life, Labour Party officials said.
Mr Sherry has been the target of a bitter government attack on his travel claims in a rolling series of accusations against a large number of politicians. "My name is now mud," Mr Sherry said in a note to the domestic news agency, Australian Associated Press.
"Everything. . .I stood publicly for. . .is now destroyed. So I am taking the appropriate course of action.
"I have behaved stupidly and I apologise. I feel no ill will towards my political opponents. The hatred and bitterness disappeared in me long ago."
The Labour Party leader, Mr Kim Beazley, visibly distressed, told reporters: "We knew he had been depressed, he had a hard week, he had long nights, he had had a tough time.
"One can never know what his thoughts were, but he blamed nobody and he was grateful for his colleagues' support during this, the most difficult week of his life in politics."
Labour officials confirmed Mr Sherry (41) had slashed his wrists and said at one stage it was thought he would not survive.
Mr Sherry was targeted by the government for claiming A$46,000 (about £20,000) in travel expenses while staying with his mother.
Both sides of Australian politics have been embroiled in a bitter row over wrongly claimed travel expenses and secret repayments. Although the Liberal-National government focused on Mr Sherry, there was no suggestion he had broken the loose rules governing the tax-free allowances paid for out-of-town business trips.
Ms Cheryl Kernot, who heads the influential Australian Democrats party, said the incident should cause politicians to reflect on the turbulent events of the past two weeks. "We must consider the personal toll as well as the political toll in all of this", said Ms Kernot. She has continually urged the main parties to call a truce to the travel claims affair, warning that Australians were disgusted with their political leaders. The bitter row has already forced the ousting of three government ministers and two of the Prime Minister's senior advisers.
The Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, said he would announce a new Cabinet tomorrow. Three Federal ministers, Mr John Sharp (Transport), Mr David Jull (Administrative Services), and Mr Peter McGauran (Science), all resigned last week over wrongly-claimed travel allowances.