An Australian politician who quit his government job over a sex scandal involving an Irish “sugar baby” admitted his “dumb mistake” cost him his career.
Andrew Broad, 43, said his public downfall had taken its toll on his family but he wanted to walk away before he became a “half-laughing stock”.
The disgraced federal MP resigned his front bench position after it emerged he contacted Dubliner Amy Keating on a dating website for “sugar babies”.
He sent her several saucy messages via text and WhatsApp and later took her for dinner at the exclusive Aqua restaurant while at a conference in Hong Kong.
Speaking to Aussie publication Sunraysia Daily, Mr Broad claimed family pressure and fallout from the scandal were among his reasons not to stand in the upcoming election.
Vowing to prioritise spending time with his wife Rachel and their foster child, he said he was leaving politics to “come out the other side stronger and better”.
Mr Broad added: “I probably could have toughed it out and let the storm blow over, stepped back from
the ministry and maybe could have won the seat... but for what?
“I didn’t want to walk home to an empty house.
“I think I’d be lucky to have spent 10 weeks at home last year. That’s no excuse for meeting someone who wasn’t my wife and having dinner with her.
“I’m not saying it is [but] the job does have huge effects on family life. I’ve got to be honest, I’m happy to be stepping away. The job had made me not as nice a person.”
The scandal dubbed “Fifty Shades of G’day” rocked the government after a magazine published an interview with Ms Keating using the online alias “Sweet Sophia Rose”.
She told New Idea Mr Broad sent her a message boasting: “I’m an Aussie lad, I know how to ride a horse, fly a plane and f*** my woman.”
The expat in her 20s, who lives in Hong Kong, said she cut the dinner date short and left because she felt uncomfortable with the politician’s behaviour.
Earlier this week Ms Keating’s father admitted she acted like a “bloody eejit” but rejected claims his daughter tried to blackmail Mr Broad.
Reports in Australia’s Herald Sun alleged she demanded he pay her more than €850 to keep quiet – but Mr Keating said that was not true.
He added: “She has made many a mistake.
“She is as naive as they come at times. I am glad she did what she did at the restaurant.
“But do I think she covered herself in glory afterwards? Absolutely not. I thought she was a bloody eejit.
An absolute idiot.”
