There Is An Integrity Investigation By The Corruption Commission, New South Wales Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian Resigns

JAKARTA - The prime minister of Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian, announced her surprise resignation after a corruption watchdog said it was investigating whether she engaged in behavior that "constituted or involved a breach of public trust".

Berejiklian's resignation comes as the state battles the country's largest COVID-19 outbreak, preparing to begin ending a months-long lockdown as Australia plans to reopen international borders in November.

Berejiklian said the matter being investigated was a matter of the past, but he felt compelled to resign due to the long time frame, likely to be involved in the investigation. Meanwhile, according to him, handling the corona virus pandemic in the state requires certainty and leadership

"I state unequivocally that I have always acted with the highest integrity," he said at a news conference, citing Reuters on October 1.

The New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said in a statement on its website that it would hold further public hearings as part of its ongoing investigation, Operation Keppel, on 18 October.

The investigation has heard Berejiklian was in a secret relationship with a state legislator, who is the focus of a corruption probe.

"My resignation as prime minister could not have happened at a worse time, but the timing is completely beyond my control, as the ICAC has chosen to take this action during the most challenging weeks, the most challenging times in the country's history. part," he continued.

Berejiklian, who became prime minister in 2017, has been providing updates on COVID-19 infections almost daily since the Delta variant broke out in the state last June.

In the past week, the daily infection tally has begun to fall as the state approaches its 70 percent vaccination target, and greater freedom of movement is expected in mid-October.

New South Wales with the capital Sydney recorded 864 new infections on Friday and 15 deaths, but officials have warned hospitals will face a peak in sick patients throughout October.

Berejiklian said he had told ministers in his government that if they were the subject of an integrity investigation, they should step aside until their names were cleared. But in his case, as prime minister, this is not an option. He will leave parliament as soon as by-elections can take place.

Berejiklian gave evidence at the ICAC hearing 12 months ago, and denies any wrongdoing.

The ICAC on Friday said the scope of its investigation had been broadened to include whether between 2012 and 2018 Berejiklian "engaged in conduct that constituted or involved a breach of public trust. By performing public functions in circumstances where he was in a position of conflict between his public duties, and the interests of because he had a personal relationship with then New South Wales MP, Daryl Maguire.

The potential breach involved grants promised to community organizations in the Maguire constituency, in Wagga Wagga.

Maguire said in the same broad investigation last year he had received envelopes full of thousands of dollars in cash at his parliamentary office, as part of a scheme for Chinese nationals to obtain visas illegally, and also tried to make money from his position as chairman of the Asian Friendship Group. Pacific parliament, by promoting a series of Chinese business deals in the Pacific islands.

Berejiklian is the second prime minister of New South Wales, Australia to resign because of the ICAC investigation. Previously, there was Barry O'Farrell who quit in 2014, after providing evidence in which he forgot to notify the commission, if he received a bottle of Grange wine worth US $ 3,000.