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New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks throughout a press convention on October 1, 2021 in Sydney, Australia.
Bianca De Marchi | Getty Pictures
The chief of New South Wales — Australia’s most populous state — introduced her resignation Friday after the state’s corruption watchdog mentioned it was investigating her.
“It pains me to announce that I’ve no possibility however to resign from the workplace of premier,” Gladys Berejiklian mentioned a briefing the place she didn’t take questions from reporters.
She mentioned her resignation will take impact as quickly because the state’s Liberal social gathering can elect a brand new chief.
“With the intention to permit the brand new chief and authorities a recent begin, I may even resign from the New South Wales parliament as soon as I’ve consulted the electoral fee on acceptable timing for a by-election,” Berejiklian added.
The investigation heightens scrutiny on Berejiklian, who had faced mounting criticism over her government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis in New South Wales.
What occurred?
A life sized cardboard cutout of the Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian sits on the ground beside some associates having a celebratory picnic within the suburb of Kirribilli on September 13, 2021 in Sydney, Australia.
James D. Morgan | Getty Pictures
The ICAC is also looking into whether Maguire, who resigned from parliament in 2018, breached public belief through the use of his public workplace to improperly achieve a profit for himself and his associates.
Berejiklian described the problems beneath investigation as “historic issues,” and mentioned the ICAC announcement left her with no alternative however to resign because the state wants certainty in difficult occasions just like the pandemic.
“I state categorically, I’ve all the time acted with the very best degree of integrity,” she mentioned.
“My resignation as premier might not happen at a worse time however the timing is totally exterior of my management because the ICAC has chosen to take this motion throughout probably the most difficult weeks of probably the most difficult time within the state’s historical past,” she mentioned.
“Resigning right now is in opposition to each intuition in my being and one thing which I don’t need to do,” she added.