And if you thought your provincial politicians misbehaved and the overall state of the 'state' was bad....
Read on.
Crikey, only in New South Wales ;D
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Reba Meagher quits NSW politics17:59 AEST Sat Sep 13 200814 hours 55 minutes agoVIEWS: 0| FLOCKS: 0| 0 comments so farFormer NSW health minister Reba Meagher has quit politics, forcing a fourth by-election on NSW voters and prompting the opposition to call for simultaneous polls.
Ms Meagher's announcement places the Labor government in an unenviable position and caps a turbulent first week for NSW premier Nathan Rees as he struggles to claw back credibility for his new but already damaged government.
A spokesman for Mr Rees said the premier learnt about Ms Meagher's decision through the media and he would not comment immediately.
"At this stage, this is a matter for Reba," the spokesman said.
"He won't be commenting at this stage."
Ms Meagher made her announcement in the form of an email sent to AAP on Saturday afternoon.
Her retirement from politics comes just over a week after former deputy premier John Watkins resigned, a move that lead to Mr Iemma's dumping when caucus refused to endorse his choice of a new frontbench.
Michael Costa was dumped as treasurer on the same day Mr Iemma lost his party's support.
Planning Minister Frank Sartor was dumped by caucus on Sunday.
And Matt Brown was sacked as police minister this week after revelations about a drunken post-budget party in his parliamentary office in June.
Mr Brown was sacked for lying to Mr Rees about dancing in his underpants in his office, where he was alleged to have straddled Wollongong MP Noreen Hay's chest and called out to her adult daughter: "Look at this, I'm tittie-f***ing your mother!"
Mr Rees also dumped Ms Noreen Hay as parliamentary secretary for health.
Earlier, Mr Rees said he was not aware other members were thinking about quitting their seats.
"No. If there are those rumblings, I haven't heard them," he said.
"The events of this week have demonstrated to me that things can, indeed, get worse ... I expect very tough by-elections in October."
The health portfolio was an undeniably challenging one for Ms Meagher, as the state's health system lurched from one crisis to another.
She said last weekend she would not seek a frontbench position in the new government after it became clear Mr Iemma had wanted to dump her from the health portfolio.
In her statement, Ms Meagher, the member for Cabramatta, said she was retiring as an MP but did not specify a date when she would inform the parliament.
"After 14 years as a parliamentarian, representing the electorate of Cabramatta, I have decided to retire, as of today," she said.
Ms Meagher's spokeswoman said the Cabramatta by-election was a matter for Mr Rees.
"She (Ms Meagher) was handing out how-to-vote cards at Cabramatta for the council elections this morning when she decided it was time for a change," the spokeswoman told AAP.
"In her words: `It's time to take a break'."
Ms Meagher had not decided on a future career path, she said.
"She is considering her options but will remain a committed and loyal member of the Labor Party."
A by-election is scheduled to be held in Mr Watkin's seat of Ryde on October 18 after he formally tendered his resignation on Friday.
But Mr Iemma has not yet formally resigned from parliament, the trigger needed to hold a by-election in his southwestern Sydney seat of Lakemba.
A fourth by-election will be held in the northern NSW seat of Port Macquarie after independent MP Rob Oakeshott vacated his seat to move to federal politics.
Mr Rees is already under pressure to hold the by-elections simultaneously to minimise the expense to taxpayers.
However, he has publicly acknowledged that Labor is likely to lose Ryde and would face a voter backlash in Lakemba.
NSW Greens leader Lee Rhiannon said Mr Rees should issue a directive to all his ministers to leave now if they are thinking of quitting.
"October 18 should be the day for the by-elections," she said.
"It's becoming a real trend with MPs - if they don't get what they want or don't have a ministry, then they want out.
"All at a great cost to the public."
Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell said no one would shed any tears at the announcement that "the state's worst ever health minister," Reba Meagher, has quit politics.
"I would simply encourage others contemplating retirement to get on with it," he said.
"The people of New South Wales don't deserve to have a series of by-elections.
"Matt Brown, if he's not happy, then get out. If any of the other losers are getting out, leave now."
He said the Liberal state executive would decide whether to stand a candidate in Cabramatta, a seat Labor holds with a 29 per cent swing.
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A bunch of overpaid childish irresponsible LOSERS!
OWDU
