Back again...the mother of Brendan Nelson (pictured with wife Debbie) mother says her son is "bleeding" after being dumped as Opposition leader.
BRENDAN Nelson`s mother says her son is "bleeding" after being dumped as Opposition leader.
Patricia Nelson paid a heartfelt tribute to her son, who she said could walk away from the Liberal leadership with his head held high.
A grandmother aged 72, Mrs Nelson also hinted Dr Nelson`s mission to become Australia`s prime minister was not over.
Speaking to the The Sunday Telegraph from outside her Adelaide home, she described politics as a "nasty business".
But she said, "He chose to go into it but, as I say, the most important thing as a human being is that he`s remained what he has always been.
"I`m his mother. I`m not a politician, I`m just his mother and I love him and he loves me."
She told Dr Nelson last Tuesday that she was proud of him.
While she did not criticise new Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull or Dr Nelson`s party rivals, Ms Nelson admitted she was upset by the turmoil. "When your child bleeds, you bleed," she said.
"Of course it has upset me, but it doesn`t mean my life doesn`t go on.
"I`m proud of the dignified way that he`s accepted all the press, the humiliation, and he`s maintained his dignity through that. He`s still the great human being that he`s always been, and still the very loving and caring person that he`s always been.
"And that`s more important than whatever he might achieve."
Asked whether her son would have made a good prime minister, Ms Nelson suggested his quest for the top office may not be finished.
"Well, I`m not sure that the fat lady still doesn`t have a bit of a croak," she said with a smile.
Ms Nelson`s said she had been moved by messages of support she had received. "Maybe they`re saying that just because they`re speaking to me, but I don`t think so," she said.
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