New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has resigned in response to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) announcement she was the subject of an investigation
Her resignation follows the ICAC announcing it is investigating her over breaches of public trust between 2012 and 2018.
“My resignation as premier could not occur at a worse time, but the timing is completely outside of my control. The ICAC has chosen to take this action during the most challenging weeks of the most challenging times in the state’s history,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Resigning at this time is against every instinct in my being and something which I do not want to do.”
Ms Berejiklian has previously come under public scrutiny after she revealed to an ICAC inquiry that she had a “close personal relationship” with former MP Darryl Maguire, who is currently under investigation by the ICAC.
“I was advised late yesterday afternoon that the Independent Commission Against Corruption will release a statement today stating they are investigating me relating to matters involving the former Member for Wagga Wagga,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“As it is clear from the ICAC statement, these are historic matters and I have already been subjected to numerous attacks by my opponents in the last 12 months.”
Ms Berejiklian said she has no choice but to resign, to ensure public trust isn’t breached while the investigation is ongoing.
The ICAC will begin hearings into potential breaches of public trust in relation to her dealings with Mr Maguire on the 18th of October.
The Premier will be questioned in relation to grants awarded to projects in Mr Maguire’s former seat of Wagga Wagga.
The ICAC is investigating whether the Premier’s failure to report potential corrupt conduct by Mr Maguire constitutes breaches of public trust, and whether there was a conflict of interest when she awarded grants in the Wagga Wagga electorate.
