Transvestite 'used To Set Up Minister’ (Press, 15 September 1988)

On 15 September 1988, a transsexual identity from Wellington, known as Carmen, made explosive claims in her forthcoming memoirs, which are set to be launched shortly. In the book, Carmen alleges that a transvestite friend was used to orchestrate a set-up involving former Labour Party Cabinet Minister Joe Walding at the Crypt nightclub in Auckland in 1977. Carmen criticises what she describes as the "dirty political tricks" employed in that era, asserting that Labour MPs should have fought back against the National Party with similar tactics. Carmen, who is 51 years old and now resides in Sydney, reflected on her interactions with notable political figures like Walding and former Prime Minister Norman Kirk in her coffee lounge, maintaining that their visits did not imply any sexual orientation. The memoir, ghost-written by Australian journalist Paul Martin, is rooted in research that prompted Carmen's brief return to Wellington in December 1987. In a segment titled “Those Politicians,” Carmen recounts how her drag queen friend was introduced to Mr Walding at the nightclub, leading to a seemingly innocuous gathering that turned into a media spectacle when a photographer arrived unannounced to capture the moment. The incident was subsequently published in a major newspaper, causing significant controversy. When her friend approached the police about the incident, she was allegedly told by a detective to remain silent or risk facing trouble. Carmen expressed concern over the motivations behind the set-up, questioning who orchestrated the event to create such a public backlash against Walding’s harmless encounter. She noted that a senior Auckland police detective was later found guilty of conduct unbecoming, but a magistrate's report cleared the detective of involvement in any political machinations or in arranging the photographer's attendance. Furthermore, Carmen recalled the broader political climate of the time, referencing a scandal involving Labour Party members Colin Moyle and Gerald O’Brien that exposed unsavoury details about political rivals. She felt the Labour Party missed an opportunity to retaliate effectively against the National Party's practices, suggesting that a more aggressive approach could have challenged the influence of what she termed the “National Party Dirty Tricks Brigade.” Through her memoir, Carmen seeks to shed light on the intricacies of political manoeuvring and the personal experiences intertwined with these events from over a decade earlier, calling for a more robust response from the Labour Party against the underhanded tactics employed by their adversaries.

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