SYDNEY: Australian New South Wales Labour Party MP Peter Breen recently described his admiration for three notorious killers in his new book. His comments raised a storm of criticism.

New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma announced on Wednesday (the 19th) that he had asked for upper house state MP Breen to resign.

Stephen Wayne "Shorty" Jamieson, Matthew Elliott and a man who can only be identified as B are currently serving sentences of life imprisonment for the 1988 abduction, rape and drowning of 20year old Janine Balding.

They were sentenced to "never be released" and were described as the most despicable criminals in New South Wales.

However, not only did Breen express his admiration for these men, especially Jamieson, but he even bought a television for them. He also wrote in his book that "I love Shorty Jamieson and I'm not afraid to say so."

Premier Iemma pointed out that Breen's words were an insult to the memory of Janine Balding and her family. Breen has the right to express his own opinions, but they most definitely did not reflect the opinions of the Australian Labour Party.

Iemma has already passed a copy of Breen's manuscript to federal authorities to determine if Breen's actions had violated any laws.