A tearful Gladys Berejiklian has resigned as NSW premier and slammed the state’s corruption watchdog after it announced it was investigating her about her secret relationship with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire.
The 51-year-old will also step down as Willoughby MP and leave politics for good as soon as a byelection can take place after Sydney’s Covid lockdown.
‘I’ve had to make a difficult decision overnight,’ Ms Berejiklian said today as she hastily read a prepared statement in front of the cameras before refusing to take questions.
‘It pains me to announce that I have no option but to resign from the Office of Premier’.
The NSW Liberals will now elect a new leader, with frontrunner Treasurer Dominic Perrottet saying he will talk to his family and colleagues over the weekend before deciding whether to put his hand up.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes – who has always wanted the top job – has declared he will run and Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres is also being talked about.
‘I am extremely confident that whoever succeeds me will be more than capable to continue this job. Please give them your trust and confidence,’ Ms Berejiklian said.
A tearful Gladys Berejiklian (pictured today) has resigned as NSW premier and slammed the state’s corruption watchdog for investigating her
The NSW corruption watchdog ICAC is investigating whether Ms Berejiklian encouraged or allowed corrupt conduct by her ex-boyfriend and former MP Daryl Maguire (pictured together)
The watchdog known as ICAC is investigating whether Ms Berejiklian encouraged or allowed corrupt conduct by her secret ex-boyfriend and former Wagga Wagga MP Mr Maguire between 2012 and 2018.
It will also probe whether she breached public trust by not reporting any suspicion of corrupt conduct.
An ICAC public inquiry on the matter will be held for about 10 days from October 18, overseen by Assistant Commissioner Ruth McColl SC.
Mr Maguire is accused of abusing his public office after admitting being involved in a cash-for-visa scheme and seeking secret commissions for brokering property deals. He was forced to resign in 2018.
ICAC has chosen to take this action during the most challenging weeks of the most challenging times in the state’s history
Gladys Berejiklian slams watchdog
Ms Berejiklian – who appeared to have been crying – denied any wrongdoing and slammed the watchdog for announcing its investigation into her as the state emerges from a four-month Covid lockdown.
‘Given the Covid restrictions, my resignation as premier could not occur at a worse time, but the timing is completely outside of my control as the ICAC has chosen to take this action during the most challenging weeks of the most challenging times in the state’s history.
‘Resigning at this time is against every instinct in my being and something which I do not want to do,’ she said.
Ms Berejiklian, who became premier in 2017 – made history in March 2019 as the first conservative premier to win a state election in Australia and is the Liberal Party’s second-longest serving NSW premier since Robert Askin’s decade in power from 1965 to 1975.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison described her as a ‘dear friend’ and said: ‘She has displayed heroic qualities, heroic qualities as the premier of NSW.’
Ms Berejiklian said she had no option but to resign in her emotional 10-minute speech
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet (pictured), a conservative and devout Catholic with six children, is next in line to lead the NSW Liberal Party
She becomes the third Liberal premier brought down by ICAC after Nick Greiner in 1992 and Barry O’Farrell in 2014.
Ms Berejiklian, who was flanked by her key supporters Brad Hazzard, Matt Kean and Victor Dominello during the 10-minute presser – said she had no choice but to resign.
‘I have made it clear on numerous occasions that if any of my ministers were the subject of allegations being investigated by an integrity agency or law enforcement, then he or she should stand aside during the course of the investigation until their name was cleared,’ she said.
‘The reason for my stance was not to have made any presumptions, as to their conduct, but rather to maintain the integrity of the public office which has held, which that person is held whilst an investigation was completed.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (right) with ex-boyfriend with Daryl Maguire (left)
‘That same standard must always apply to me also as the premier however standing aside is not an option for me as the premier of New South Wales. The people of this state need certainty as to who the leader is during the challenging times of the pandemic.’
Ms Berejiklian – who has enjoyed record popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic – thanked residents for supporting her.
‘I hope you know that you will remain foremost in my thoughts, the courage that you display in your lives every day has inspired me every step of the way, the courage and the support you’ve shown me has humbled me and made me a better leader and a better person.
‘Serving you has been the greatest privilege of my life. Please know that every day I gave it my all and worked as hard as I could to create a better future for our state and its people.
‘I truly believe that New South Wales is a place where every person, irrespective of their background and circumstances has the opportunity to be their best to make a difference.’
Ms Berejiklian also delivered a message of hope for the future in her final address to the state.
‘So as I address you for the final time as your premier. Please stay the course and stay safe. We will be shortly out of this lockdown and be able to get on with our lives,’ she said.
‘New South Wales and its people will come out of this lockdown stronger, and together we will build a future full of optimism and hope. Finally, thank you again for giving me the honour of being your premier,’ she said.
Deputy Premier and Nationals leader John Barilaro said he would stay in government with whoever leads the Liberals.
‘Everyone has the right to defend their name and I wish Gladys all the best for her future.
‘Any speculation regarding Liberal Party leadership remains an issue for the Liberal Party.
‘The NSW Nationals remain committed to a strong and stable NSW Coalition Government,’ he said.
Mr Perrottet said Ms Berejiklian has shown ‘an unstinting dedication to public service and a great love for her community.
‘The interests of the people of NSW must always come first, and the priority for the Government is to ensure we continue to keep people safe, and that we re-open the economy and get people back to work, kids back to school, and life back to normal as fast as possible,’ he said.
‘Over the coming days I will be talking to my family and colleagues about how I can best serve the people of NSW to continue to achieve these aims.’
Ms Berejiklian revealed to an ICAC hearing in October 2020 that she had been in a secret ‘close personal relationship’ with Mr Maguire for five years.
She revealed she had a ‘personal attachment’ to Mr Maguire after working together for more than 15 years and said their relationship began in 2015.
‘I would like to state at the outset Mr Maguire was a colleague of 15 years, he was someone that I trusted,’ she said.
‘That developed into a close personal relationship.’
An intercepted phone call between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire was played to the commission, revealing their close relationship.
The private conversation was about Mr Maguire’s first trip to China.
Ms Berejiklian could be heard saying former chief-of-staff Sarah Cruickshank had concerns about his travel.
‘Alright babe, what do you think?’ Mr Maguire said.
Ms Berejiklian replied: ‘I just got home, did Sarah ring you from my office?’
Mr Maguire was concerned.
‘No why?’ he replied.
‘She sent me a text, when she has to ring a member of Parliament she lets me know.’
‘They seem to think it’s in your electorate. I didn’t say anything, It’s none of my business, I’m just letting you know.’
Mr Maguire went on to use ‘offensive language’ to explain why he was going to China.
‘I will [interfere]… these bureaucrats don’t care… they’re shaking hands, they are sucking people’s d***s and they are turning up to everything and they do nothing,’ he said.
The ICAC is also investigating whether Ms Berejiklian had a conflict of interest in connection with grant funding to the Australian Clay Target Association in 2016 and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga in 2018.
In August it emerged that Ms Berejiklian showed ‘interest’ in a proposed $5.5million grant for a shooting association clubhouse and conference facility in former partner Daryl Maguire’s electorate, documents show.
But the premier insisted she’s done nothing wrong.
The ICAC is also investigating whether Ms Berejiklian had a conflict of interest in connection with grant funding to the Australian Clay Target Association in Wagga Wagga (pictured)
Documents obtained by NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge show the Australian Clay Target Association sought grant funding for the clubhouse and conference facility in Wagga Wagga.
Its initial business case was knocked back but a revised version was in 2017 reconsidered, according to the documents, after Ms Berejiklian made inquiries on the matter. It was subsequently approved.
Mr Maguire had initially in 2016 written to Ms Berejiklian about the project – at a time when the pair were in a secret relationship. Ms Berejiklian was NSW treasurer at the time.
She thanked him for ‘bringing (the) request to the government’s attention’ and referred him to the then-minister for sport, Stuart Ayres.
The Australian Clay Target Association project in 2017 failed a cost-benefit analysis, recording a score of 0.88 – lower than the minimum score of above 1.00.
It was reassessed later in 2017 after a new business case was put forward by consultants engaged by the Department of Industry, with more details on anticipated interstate and international visitors.
The documents suggest Ms Berejiklian made a ‘request’ to the department’s Investment Appraisal Unit to carry out that business case reassessment.
That second business case received a score of 1.10 over the 25-year assessment period, and was approved.
Another document – an email written by then Regional NSW deputy secretary Gary Barnes – notes Ms Berejiklian’s ‘interest’ in the project.
‘If you want proof this $5.5million grant was about politics not merit, then you can always check out the initial business case assessment. It showed the project was a no-go,’ Mr Shoebridge said.
Ms Berejiklian denied all wrongdoing, saying processes were followed.
‘The proposition you are putting is absolutely ridiculous and all proper processes were followed,’ Ms Berejiklian told reporters in August.
With AAP
The heir apparent: Frontrunner to replace Gladys Berejiklian as NSW Premier is a 39-year-old father of SIX who is a devout Catholic – but he faces a fight with senior ministers
By Stephen Johnson
Father-of-six Dominic Perrottet is shaping as the favourite to replace Gladys Berejiklian as the Premier of New South Wales.
But the conservative faces a tough fight for the Liberal Party leadership from leading moderates with Planning Minister Rob Stokes and Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres, the partner of Foreign Minister Marise Payne, shaping up as contenders.
At 39, Mr Perrottet would be the youngest leader in the history of Australia’s’ most populated state, making him a year younger than Nick Greiner, Nathan Rees and Kristina Keneally when they rose to power.
He would also be Australia’s youngest state premier since Labor’s Wayne Goss first led Queensland aged 38 in December 1989.
Mr Perrottet, who became Treasurer in January 2017 when Ms Berejiklian replaced Mike Baird as Premier, is also a devout Catholic.
At 1pm, Ms Berejiklian announced she would become the third Liberal premier in NSW to be brought down by the anti-corruption body her side of politics created more than three decades ago.
But he faces a leadership contest with Sydney Northern Beaches-based Planning Minister Rob Stokes declaring he will run
Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres, a moderate holding the marginal seat of Penrith in Sydney’s west, is another possible contender. He is the partner of Foreign Minister Marise Payne
Hailing from the Liberal Party’s Right faction Mr Perrottet, a former lawyer, would most likely have a moderate as his deputy, with Environment Minister Matt Kean and Attorney-General Mark Speakman among the possibilities.
But he faces a leadership contest with Sydney Northern Beaches-based Planning Minister Rob Stokes declaring he will run.
Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres, a moderate holding the marginal seat of Penrith in Sydney’s west, is another possible contender.
Mr Perrottet, the Member for Epping in Sydney’s north, became NSW Young Liberals president in 2005, three years after future Immigration Minister Alex Hawke spear-headed the right-wing takeover of the party’s youth wing.
His studied law at the University of Sydney with future Labor senator Sam Dastyari and the two were friends when they respectively led the youth wings of their parties as right-wing leaders.
Now resigning from Parliament, sparking a by-election in her Sydney Lower North Shore seat of Willoughby as Sydney prepares to end its three-month lockdown on October 11.
Mr Perrottet’s elevation would occur as a result of Ms Berejiklian becoming the third Liberal premier to resign because of a corruption investigation.
Hailing from the Liberal Party’s Right faction Mr Perrottet, a former lawyer, would most likely have a moderate as his deputy, with Matt Kean, Mark Speakman and Rob Stokes among the possibilities (he is pictured with his wife Helen in March 2021)