Colston doomed - wife
By DAVID MURRAY and LIAM WALSH
13nov02
DISGRACED former Labor senator Mal Colston continues to battle ill health,
his wife said yesterday.
Dawn Colston said people "don't get over" illnesses of the kind her
husband, 64, suffered, but would not go into detail about his health.
Both sides of federal politics yesterday backed moves to reopen the Mal
Colston travel rorts case.
Mrs Colston also said their children faced the possibility of losing both
their parents, revealing she too was battling a life-threatening illness.
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions dropped 28 travel rorts
charges against Dr Colston in July 1999 after medical experts said he had
cancer and would probably die before any trial could take place.
But the DPP is now reviewing the case and has requested Dr Colston submit
to a new medical examination to determine if he can face trial.
The review comes after revelations Dr Colston has used more than $1000 of
taxpayers' money for a 17-day trip to Canberra last April and May.
Mrs Colston yesterday spoke briefly from her home at Chapel Hill, in
Brisbane's west.
She did not want details of her illness to be published, but it has
previously been reported that she underwent extensive chemotherapy for
breast cancer in 1998.
Mrs Colston yesterday blamed public scrutiny for her poor health.
Constant media attention had caused her stress and contributed to the
illness, she said.
The media had "stalked" her family and she had spoken to an MP about
reporters harassing her, she said.
Mrs Colston also claimed the media and the Labor Party were working
together to ensure her husband was charged over alleged travel rorts.
Dr Colston is believed to have been diagnosed with a bile duct tumour.
Australian Medical Association state president Russell Stitz yesterday said
there was only a 30 per cent survival rate for people with bile duct cancer.
"(But) it is possible that the doctors could have thought he had a very
short period to live, yet he responded well to the treatment and as a
result is still OK."
Surgery and radiotherapy are treatment options for bile duct tumors.
Federal Opposition Leader Simon Crean welcomed the review and said it was
valid to ask why it had taken so long to get around to it.
"I think he should undergo the investigation because what we could find is,
not only the truth, but perhaps miracles in modern science being worked
here," he said.
Neighbours said they had not seen Dr Colston for months.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,5476036%255E662,00.html
Cancer of the colston may be contagious and/or genetic,and is being closely
studied in ongoing double blind randomized trials involving Mals sons, who
were on the pad,and others in the Laboral party.
