You probably thought online dating was exclusive to young adults who have nothing to do and spend their entire time on the internet right? Well, newsflash, you thought wrong.
Andrew Broad, an Australian minister has today resigned from Cabinet over a media report that he allegedly used a website to meet a younger woman while on a Hong Kong work trip.
New Idea, an Australian weekly magazine ran an interview with a woman called Amy who said that she met Mr. Broad on a website, which is used by wealthy, older men to meet younger women. Amy, who is 20 years younger than the Australian lawmaker said that she agreed to meet Broad at the Hong Kong Restaurant for dinner but left because she did not like his behaviour.
After his resignation, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said that he accepted the resignation of Andrew Broad after New Idea Magazine ran an interview.
“Due to the nature of the allegations made, it is appropriate for Mr Broad to resign as the assistant minister to the deputy prime minister,” McCormack said in an emailed statement adding that Broad would remain on the government backbench.
A spokeswoman for Broad did not immediately respond to requests for comment but said that the matter has been reported to the Australian Federal Police.
The deputy prime minister also said Mr Broad had reported the allegation that the woman was involved in criminal activity to the police.
“They will uncover if there has been impropriety done,” Mr McCormack said, adding that the issue was “an unnecessary distraction” for the government.
Broad’s resignation came just hours after the government forecast the strongest budget outlook in 10 years, arming Prime Minister Scott Morrison with a war chest large enough to allow for possible tax cuts ahead of an election in less than six months.
Do you think that the Minister should have stepped down?