After the Punchwood incident, there was a lot of momentum against this sort of behaviour, so much so that there was a Senate initiative to
change our criminal law in that regard. I'm glad that it didn't went through, because I think it is right for our voters to make the call whether something is going too far (beyond the current criminal code). And DH is also right when he insinuates that many of us would be wrong to say we never encountered or even engaged in such behaviour. This sort of politicking has always sort of existed and will probably always exist. BUT, just because it has been done before doesn't mean it's not sketchy. It just means that previously it was far more normal, and that doesn't mean it was always any good.
If HEM now chooses to reveal that behaviour, I think it's good for our culture of transparency that we have become more accustomed to. People can form their own view, as they evidently do, and decide for themselves whether they find it right or wrong or something in between.
Personally, I don't think it's a huge scandal. I wouldn't be shocked to find out that no one here thinks it's a huge scandal. We'll all move on and everything will be fine, I'm not even sure the referendum is hugely tainted, because all sides know and admit it was safe. But I think it was wrong, and I'm absolutely confused why OD felt the need to make that comment (and in the name of Drecq, too). It was just very unnecessary and avoidable.