Former Robertson MP Belinda Neal says Iguana’s scandal a long time ago and she’s moved on

HER name will be forever linked to the words “Don’t You Know Who I Am” when a night out at a local nightclub became a career-ending political scandal.

Belinda Neal at Ocean Beach on the Central Coast. Belinda talks about life after politics.

HER name will be forever synonymous with the words Don’t You Know Who I Am when a night out at Iganaua’s nightclub turned into a career-ending political scandal.

But that was a long time ago and these days former federal Labor MP Belinda Neal is absolutely loving life - whether people know her or not.

Ms Neal and her husband, former Labor member of the NSW Legislative Council and one time general secretary of the NSW Labor Party John Della Bosca, put the Central Coast on the national map, after an alleged altercation with bar staff where she is alleged to have declared “Don’t You Know Who I Am?”.

Ms Neal denies ever having said the words, but it was the start of the end for her political career after winning the federal seat of Robertson in 2007.

There are also unconfirmed media reports that Ms Neal intends to seek Labor preselection for the state seat of Gosford or one of the Central Coast seats tainted by sitting Liberals caught up in the ICAC corruption scandal. The report on ABC radio quoted “senior Labor sources”.

INFAMOUS IGUANAS NIGHT CLUB TO REOPEN IN SEPTEMBER

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After the Iguana’s incident, her reputation continued to take a battering and she lost preselection for the next federal election in 2010, announcing she would not recontest the next election.

News_Image_File: Belinda Neal at Ocean Beach on the Central Coast. Belinda talks about life after politics.

Mr Della Bosca also resigned from his position that year after a public scandal over an extra-marital affair.

He became a campaign director for the National Disability and Carers Alliance, and assisted in the establishment of a national disability insurance scheme.

These days the couple work side by side at their Woy Woy Bay home office running a small business providing policy solutions for non-government organisations, particularly in the areas of health, disability and housing.

“Iguana’s was all a long time ago,” she said.

“I have regrets about it, but I learned from it and moved on.

“I am actually just enjoying the Central Coast for a change, instead of running around frantically, I am just enjoying the beauty of the coast.”

Although the couple have both been out of politics for four years, they remain devoted to the Labor Party and active at branch level.

News_Image_File: Exterior of Iguana Joe's.

She described the current political turmoil where three of the four Central Coast state Liberal MPs have moved to the cross benches after being caught up in the current ICAC investigation as “disappointing”.

“It is really disappointing for the people of the Central Coast who don’t have effective representation in state parliament,” she said.

While she won’t openly admit to it, she must find it ironic that two of those former Liberal MPs are Chris Hartcher and Chris Spence.

Mr Spence, as a JP, was called to Iguana’s on the night of the incident and witnessed several statutory declarations by staff about Ms Neal’s behaviour.

“There’s no denying the source of some of the wild allegations came from Chris Hartcher’s office,” she said.

News_Image_File: Belinda Neal looks troubled during the difficult time of the Iguanas scandal.

News_Image_File: Belinda Neil faces a media scrum during the Iguanas scandal.

While both Labor and Liberal MPs have been caught up in corruption allegations over the four years since Ms Neal left politics, she said there was still a big difference between the two parties.

“The Labor leadership has dealt with those people and those people have gone,” she said.

“The Liberal people are still there and that’s not acceptable, it reflects badly on all side of politics.”

Ms Neal said she enjoyed her brief time representing the Central Coast.

“I loved representing the Central Coast, it was my home and representing my own community was fantastic,” she said.

“I feel I managed to achieve a great deal in a short time.

“It was very satisfying and I really did enjoy it.”

QUICK QUESTIONS

News_Image_File: Spending more time with husband John Della Bosca.

Q. Loving life?

A.Absolutely.

Q. Playing Soccer?

A.No

Q. Regrets (aside from Iguana’s)?

A.None.

Q. Best achievement?

A.The Central Coast Cancer Centre.

Q. Life with her husband?

A. We have more time to enjoy together in a more relaxed way.

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