NSW Liberal powerbroker Kent Johns is put on leave after Daily Mail Australia ... trends now
A political powerbroker has taken a leave of absence from his local council job and been stood aside from another high-flying role after explosive footage emerged of him dry humping the air and ridiculing a gay colleague.
Kent Johns, considered an influential figure within NSW Liberal ranks, made the lewd remarks in October 2022, months after he lost an internal battle for an upper house seat.
On Thursday, he issued a statement revealing he is 'taking a leave of absence from Sutherland Council' as he 'addresses the issues that caused me to make this extremely serious error of judgement'.
'With a heavy heart, I acknowledge a lapse in judgement that has tarnished my commitment to the LGBTI+ community.
'As a longstanding supporter of LGBTI+ rights, I'm deeply disappointed in my own behaviour.'
In addition to taking time off from his role as councillor, Daily Mail Australia can reveal Mr Johns has agreed to 'step aside' from his position as Head of Government Relations and Policy at the National Electrical and Communications Association.
A spokesperson said a review will be undertaken 'into recent media reporting concerning his behaviour'.
Mr Johns reached out to the colleague in question, Chris Rath, after Daily Mail Australia approached him about the nature of the video.
He apologised both publicly and in private for the lewd remarks he made.
The Sutherland Shire councillor had finished up at a taxpayer-funded work event in the Hunter Valley when the incident took place at an afterparty about 1am.
In the video, Mr Johns dry-humped the air in front of several other men, saying 'stick it up my a***' and 'Rath is bad', in an apparent reference to his gay Liberal colleague Chris Rath.
Mr Rath is one of two openly gay members of the Liberal Party in the NSW
