Commentary
Over 20 years ago, Australian federal Member of Parliament Greg Wilton took his own life. The tragedy culminated in a series of events that highlight how poorly we deal with vulnerable men.
Three weeks earlier, Wilton had been found “in a distressed state” with his children in a car in the national park, apparently rigging a hose to the exhaust. It was widely reported as an attempted murder-suicide.
He spent time in psychiatric care, but with his Labor colleagues maneuvering to force him out of parliament and relentless hounding from the press, it wasn’t long before he tried again. This time he succeeded. On June 14, 2000, the 44-year-old was found dead in his car, with the exhaust hose attached.
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