Where to from here?īerejiklian is resigning as premier and will also leave NSW parliament. It will also investigate whether she failed to report reasonable suspicions that “concerned or may concern corrupt conduct in relation to the conduct of Mr Maguire”. The commission will probe whether her conduct represented a “breach of public trust” by placing herself in a position of conflict between her public duties and private interests “as a person who was in a personal relationship” with Maguire. The Icac says it will investigate whether Berejiklian “was liable to allow or encourage the occurrence of corrupt conduct by Mr Maguire”. “I state categorically I’ve always acted with the highest level of integrity,” she said.ĭocuments subsequently obtained by NSW crossbenchers revealed that Berejiklian, when treasurer, had taken a particular interest in grants made to Maguire for projects in Wagga.
Those allegations are still being investigated by the Icac and Berejiklian has strongly denied any wrongdoing. The ABC has previously revealed that Berejiklian had a role overseeing that grant and that Maguire had advocated for the money and later attempted to personally benefit from the grants. It recently began exploring a grant program that gave $5.5m to the Australian Clay Target Association in 2016-17. Why is Icac investigating Berejiklian now? Keppel has not concluded its investigation nor has it handed down findings. The revelation was extremely damaging, but Berejiklian survived. The inquiry heard excruciating phone calls, secretly taped, between Maguire and Berejiklian, in which the Wagga Wagga MP discussed the deal and his potential windfall, and the premier replied: “I don’t need to know about that bit.” It heard he sought to make a significant financial gain through the sale of racing heiress Louise Waterhouse’s land at the proposed western Sydney airport in Badgerys Creek, a development in which the NSW government was intimately involved. In October last year, Maguire admitted he sought to “monetise” his parliamentary office and “use his status” as a politician for his own financial gain. The inquiry heard evidence last year that Maguire and Berejiklian were in a secret relationship for five years, which had since ended.Īt the time, the Icac was focused on Maguire’s acceptance of commissions from property developers and his failures to disclose business interests. The aim of Keppel was to probe Maguire and allegations he sought to use public office and parliamentary resources to improperly benefit himself and others close to him. The remarkable events of Friday were precipitated by a damning Icac inquiry, known as Operation Keppel. It always has been and always will be.” How did this all begin? “I do not want to be a distraction from what should be the focus of the state government during this pandemic, which is the wellbeing of our citizens. “Resigning at this time goes against every instinct in my being and something which I do not want to do,” she said.
She fronted the media, denied any wrongdoing and announced her resignation.She did not take questions from journalists. Not long after Icac’s announcement, an email from Berejiklian’s office announced she would be making a “significant announcement” at 1pm. The investigation is focused on any relationship between the grants and the secret relationship that existed at the time between Berejiklian and disgraced former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire, who had been advocating for the money. 02:40 'Acted with integrity': NSW premier Berejiklian resigns after Icac announces investigation – video
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