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Gladys Berejiklian Is Resigning As Premier Of New South Wales

Gladys Berejiklian Is Resigning As Premier Of New South Wales

It comes after a corruption investigation was launched into whether she engaged in conduct that involved a breach of public trust.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Gladys Berejiklian has announced she will be resigning as Premier of New South Wales.

Ms Berejiklian held back tears as she explained that she had 'no other option' but to stand down as the state's leader.

"I've had to make an extremely difficult decision overnight, one I feel obliged to do because of the love and respect I have are the people of New South Wales and the high regard with which I have the office of Premier," she said.

It comes after the state's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) announced it would be investigating the politician over allegations she engaged in conduct that involved a breach of public trust.

The focus of the probe will settle on the legitimacy of Ms Berejiklian awarding grants to several community organisations over a six year period.

The claims target her dealings between 2012 to 2018 under Operation Keppel, which has been looking into allegations of breaching the public trust to improperly gain a benefit.

They will be investigating the personal relationship the Premier had with then-NSW MP Daryl Maguire, whether that influenced her decision to give grants to the politician's area, and whether she disclosed the possible conflict of interest.

A statement from ICAC said it will be looking into the following:

  • Whether Ms Berejiklian breached public trust by exercising public functions in circumstances where she was in a position of conflict between her public duties and her private interest as a person who was in a personal relationship with the then NSW Member of Parliament, Mr Daryl Maguire, in connection with: grant funding promised and/or awarded to the Australian Clay Target Association Inc in 2016/2017; and grant funding promised and/or awarded to the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga in 2018; and/or
  • constituted or involved the partial exercise of any of her official functions, in connection with: grant funding promised and/or awarded to the Australian Clay Target Association Inc in 2016/2017; grant funding promised and/or awarded to the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga in 2018; and/or
  • constituted or involved the dishonest or partial exercise of any of her official functions and/or a breach of public trust by refusing to exercise her duty pursuant to section 11 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988 to report any matter that she suspected on reasonable grounds concerned or may concern corrupt conduct in relation to the conduct of Mr Daryl Maguire; and/or
  • was liable to allow or encourage the occurrence of corrupt conduct by Mr Maguire.

The inquiry will kick off on October 18 and is expected to last for 10 days.

Ms Berejiklian said she will resign as soon as the Liberal Party can elect a new leader.

She added that she will also resign from the NSW Parliament.

Featured Image Credit: Saeed Khan/Pool via REUTERS

Topics: Australia

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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