Explosive footage has emerged of a Liberal power broker and councilor wailing in the air and mocking a gay colleague with sexual comments.
Kent Johns, considered an influential figure within NSW Liberal ranks, made the lewd comments in October 2022, months after losing a battle for a seat in the House of Lords.
The Sutherland Shire councilor had finished a taxpayer-funded work event in the Hunter Valley when the incident happened at an after-party around 1am.
In the video, Mr Johns made fun of several other men, saying: “Light it up” and “Rath is evil,” in an apparent reference to his gay Liberal colleague Chris Rath.
Mr Rath is one of two openly gay Liberal Party members in the NSW Parliament and recently proposed to his long-term partner in France.
Sutherland Shire councilor Kent Johns, considered a power broker within NSW’s Liberal ranks, made the lewd comments in October 2022, within months of losing a battle for a seat in the House of Lords.
In audio that was less clear, Mr. Johns said “I don’t like it,” followed again by the word “Rath.”
At least one man can be heard giggling in the background of the audio, while another makes a motion with his fist towards Mr Johns’ buttocks.
When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, Mr Johns admitted that ‘it was a very stupid thing to say’.
‘I was stupid. It was 1am… It was a really stupid thing to say.”
He later commented, “It was years ago, after a night out, where I said some pretty stupid things, but it’s not the person I am.”
‘I am really sorry.’
The cell phone view appears to have been filmed in a hotel suite where several men were present.
Daily Mail Australia understands that in addition to this footage, there are other audio clips from the evening in question in which Mr Johns unleashed himself on other colleagues.
Former state treasurer Matt Kean was sprayed and described as a “piece of s***” during the evening, Australia’s Margin Call column reported earlier on Tuesday.
The vision comes at a difficult time for Mr Johns, who faces a local election battle in September.
He was mayor twice and has 25 years of experience in local government. He was also once vice-president of the NSW Liberal Party and served as acting president.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Rath for comment.
At least one man can be heard giggling in the background of the audio, while another makes a motion with his fist towards Mr Johns’ buttocks