In 2021,Gladys Berejiklian was forced to resign because of an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation into her dealings with secret boyfriend Daryl Maguire.
Now,Dominic Perrottet’s premiership has been thrown into crisis because he has admitted to wearing a Nazi uniform to his 21st birthday party in 2003.
In a shock announcement at a press conference on Thursday,Perrottet said he was “deeply ashamed” for the pain he had caused,especially to the Jewish community.
For some voters,this colossal error of judgment from 19 years ago will be put to one side as a stupid prank by a misguided young man. Everyone does dumb stuff when they are 21.
Many prominent figures have lived down similar youthful errors. In 2005,a young Prince Harry wore a Nazi costume to a party. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was elected in 2019 despite revelations that he wore blackface to several parties. There is no suggestion that either man was irredeemably racist.
Perrottet might have avoided his pre-election problem by revealing it sooner. For instance,former premier Mike Baird revealed months before the 2015 election he had smoked marijuana,eliminating it as a factor in the campaign.
But Perrottet kept this incident to himself. The thing that prompted him to make the disclosure now was a call from a cabinet colleague on Tuesday,apparently warning him that the story was out there and about to break. It seems likely that this was part of an internal political hit against the premier just 10 weeks before the election.
While Perrottet has asked voters to forgive him,he himself has been brutal in the past in criticising the actions of others. Before the 2019 state election,when a tape was leaked of then opposition leader Michael Daley making remarks about the impact of Chinese migration on job availability,Perrottet had no qualms about attacking Daley,forcing him to resign. Perrottet also called for lifetime bans on soccer fans who made a Nazi-style salute at October’s Australia Cup final game last year.
For a politician who so often stresses personal values it is baffling that at the age of 21 and with a political career in mind Perrottet could break this most fundamental taboo.
For many victims of the Nazis,including many in the Jewish community,Perrottet’s actions are unforgiveable. But others are willing to give Perrottet the benefit of the doubt.
However,theHeraldalso agrees with federal Liberal MP Julian Leeser,who is Jewish and has known Perrottet for many years. In a statement,Leeser said the premier of 2023 is very different to the student of 2003. “I can say the Dom Perrottet I know – a man who is a loving father,a conscientious local member,and hardworking and serious premier,is a world away from the arrogant,ignorant,heartless and mean-spirited actions of a university student,” Leeser said. “I count Dom as a friend – and a friend who has proven himself to be much better than his worst moment.”
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Darren Bark also on Thursday described Perrottet as a “strong supporter and friend” of the state’s Jewish community throughout his time in public life.
The impact of this affair will take time to be seen. Some will regard it as a mistake with little to no bearing on Perrottet’s leadership or character two decades on from the original sin. For others,it will affirm doubts over Perrottet’s conservatism.
The public will have to throw this into the mix of issues which will decide their vote on March 25. The premier is already trailing in the polls and this incident will only put him further behind.
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