Public Figures, Private Lives
The story of NSW Health Minister John Della Bosca's extra-marital affair, and his decision to bow out of public office after being outed, has made plenty of headlines this week. He's an easy target for the media - Let's face it, scandalous headlines sell newspapers. But the opinions of public figures on this are far from uniform.
Some leaders say his behaviour was unacceptable and its right that he quit the job; Others reckon what happens in his private life doesn't matter - as long as he's doing his job properly. (eg former NSW premier Bob Carr, media academic Catharine Lumby, political writer Bob Ellis,)
One prominent ethicist held no strong opinion at all, and basically said it's up to the public to decide what should happen.
Jim Wallis, head of the Australian Christian Lobby, has done a lot of thinking about this topic of leadership and accountability, he shared his thoughts with us.
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this topic of public figures and their accountability...
DISCUSSION POINTS
• Some people are saying as long as they can do their job then its no-ones business what goes on in private. What do you think?
• We wouldn't expect people in many other roles to be sacked over something that's going on in their private life... what is it about the role of a politician that demands them to be more morally pure?
• The pressures of public life are well known and there's many sad stories about celebrities and politicians who have crumbled under the intense pressure of the media and the paparazzi ... Should you really be expected to give up your private life when you enter public life?
• One letter to the editor in a newspaper website said, "I have trouble understanding what a sex scandal is. To my mind, who you have sex with is your business. I thought that this was generally agreed in the Australian media." Does the media have a double standard - making light of extra-marital affairs on one hand, then tearing down a leader who fails in this area?
• Should an affair be a quittable / sackable offense for a politician?
