•        Minister's resignation rocks Government
        •        Leading a secret gay life
        •        Labor bracing itself for public backlash
        •        Men's club: discreet liaison's for $22
THE New South Wales Premier is facing the toughest test of her leadership after a senior minister resigned last night, telling her he has been living a gay "double life".
Transport Minister David Campbell quit after confessing to Kristina Keneally and his family that he had visited a gay men's club on Tuesday, driving himself in a ministerial car.
Mr Campbell made the phone call to tell wife Edna - who was last week declared in remission from cancer - shortly after 4.30pm (AEST).
He then walked into the Premier's office to reveal he was resigning as minister. A senior Labor source said Mr Campbell had told Ms Keneally he had "no choice" but to step down to "sort out" issues with his family.
After a candid 15-minute conversation, the Premier accepted his resignation, saying: "That's very brave of you, David."
Stunned colleagues said the scandal would be "the final nail in the coffin" for the State Government.
Mr Campbell's downfall was prompted by Seven News filming him using his government car to visit Ken's at Kensington - a gay sex sauna in Ms Keneally's seat of Heffron.
It was known inside Cabinet that Mr Campbell had been visiting gay bath houses and gay bars for years. One MP saying last night: "Well, he's come out of the closet."
A senior government source revealed there had been concerns inside the Cabinet about Mr Campbell's secret double life becoming public.
While colleagues were bracing for a community backlash, one minister said there was sympathy for Mr Campbell and his wife of 33 years.
"Someone being gay doesn't matter at all - it is his wife who has cancer and his political judgment that goes towards his guilt," the MP said.
"What a terrible life of lies for him."
Another MP said: "It is a personal matter, it's not illegal, but I am absolutely stunned."
Mr Campbell, who started off his political life at Wollongong council, married his wife when he was just 19 and only last week he had been telling colleagues of his relief that her cancer was in remission.
In a statement last night, Mr Campbell defended his reputation and said he was proud of his achievements as a minister.
"I apologise to my wife, family, colleagues, staff and the community for letting them down," he said.
For the past month the Opposition had been accusing Mr Campbell of going missing on April 12 as thousands of drivers queued for up to 12 hours on the F3 after a truck smash.
"Whether it is the failed Sydney metro, the botched MyZone fare restructure or the monstrous new car tax on families, it is clear that David Campbell is not up to the job," Nationals Leader Andrew Stoner told Parliament last month.

lol was watching the news, he had to resign so sad.

but they are arguing that he's a family man, give him a break!

Simple rule is, if you want to be a politician and a public figure you have to be more discreet. Driving to a gay club in a ministerial car is absurd. He could've just gotten someone to arrange the male prostitute for him in a hotel like most other gay politicians would do.

The real story here is that channel 7, (Australian T.V. station) broke the unwritten code of not publishing stories about politicians private lives without a damn good reason. The fact that he is gay doesn't affect his ability (or lack thereof) to do his job and if he wanted to stay in the closet then that was his business. Channel 7 has come in for some real flack from other media outlets as well as private citizens over this. I'd hate to see us going down the path that the U.S. has followed where your squeaky clean image is more important than your ability. That's how we were all lumbered with Bush Jr.

There was a time in the US when the private lives of politicians were kept private, take JFK for instance. His affairs with countless women and Marilyn Monroe was not reported until long after his death. There are a lot of religious voters out there and the opposition would use any opportunity to gain more votes and get ahead. Please don't mention Bush. I think everyone is just happy to see him out of office except for some rednecks.

I think politicians should know that when you are in the public spotlight, you just can not tarnish your reputation.  Actors/actresses can make a mistake and recover, but for a politician, a single mistake can be a death sentence.

Politicians like anybody else should have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. In any case having a private life that includes gay sex should not cause a tarnished reputation anymore than using a WG should.

No, no, no.  Having someone arrange a fuck buddy to come to your room is how Clinton first got in trouble as governor.

No, the only safe way for a public politician to solicit gay sex is in a completely anonymous fashion . . . like the men's room of the Minneapolis Airport.  That shouldbe perfectly safe and discreet.