REMEMBER WHEN

BESIEGED senior minister John Della Bosca was betrayed by NSW Premier Morris Iemma at the 11th hour and suspended in a humiliating about-turn over the Iguanas affair.

It was understood Mr Della Bosca was furious at his treatment by Mr Iemma, who had assured him that his position was safe.

The Premier called his minister to say he would not be stood aside for drafting his own apology from Iguanas over bullying allegations.

Mr Della Bosca took Mr Iemma at his word and went on Radio 2GB to defend himself.

But when Mr Iemma arrived at work, his panicked staff demanded action.

Mr Iemma was then forced to call Mr Della Bosca back later and retract his promise.

“He pretty much hung Della out to dry,” said one senior MP.

The Government’s plans to get its $25bn power sale legislation through parliament were effectively shattered.

Even with Mr Della Bosca’s loyalists, Mr Iemma couldn’t marshall the numbers without Liberal support, and party sources said they would not back any plan until it had been examined by the Auditor-General, which was expected to take months.

The Education Minister had been ‘stood aside’ from Cabinet – and as Government Leader in the Upper House – while police investigated allegations that he and his federal MP wife Belinda Neal bullied staff at the nightclub a week earlier.

Ultimately the incident proved to be end of the political careers of both Mr Della Bosca and Ms Neal who both later left parliament.