Berejiklian resigns amid NSW ICAC probe
Gladys
Berejiklian’s four-and-a-half year stint as NSW premier has come to a close
after the state’s anti-corruption watchdog announced she was under
investigation for potential breaches of public trust.
Ms
Berejiklian will also resign from NSW parliament as soon as a by-election for
her north Sydney seat of Willoughby can be held.
NSW’s
Independent Commission Against Corruption said in a statement on Friday it was
investigating whether Ms Berejiklian “exercised public functions” in a position
of conflict given her secret five-year relationship with ex-MP Daryl Maguire,
revealed at ICAC in late 2020.
A wearied Ms
Berejiklian said on Friday she could not temporarily step aside while ICAC
conducted its investigation and then resume the premiership. As such, she said
she was compelled to resign her role.
She also said
her resignation “could not happen at a worse time” as the state prepares to
leave COVID-enforced lockdowns in the coming weeks.
Credit; Angelo Risso :source aap.com
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