Federal Liberal chief Peter Dutton has backed in and defended Gladys Berejiklian, a day after the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption discovered her to have engaged in “serious corrupt conduct”.
Mr Dutton stated the previous NSW Premier is “absolutely a wonderful person”, however had chosen a “bum” in former companion and disgraced ex-Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire.
On Thursday, long-awaited ICAC findings into the actions of Mr Maguire and subsequently Ms Berejiklian have been handed down, concluding that the previous premier had breached public belief between 2016 to 2017 by failing to reveal her five-year relationship with Mr Maguire.
Ms Berejiklian’s conduct was not discovered to be felony, however ICAC really helpful Mr Maguire must be referred to the Director of Public Prosecution.
The watchdog discovered that the extended, secret relationship might have had the “potential to influence the performance of her public duty”, and that Ms Berejiklian failed her ministerial duties by not disclosing the connection.
ICAC additionally discovered Ms Berejiklian breached her duties below part 11 of the ICAC Act by not notifying the corruption watchdog of her “suspicion” that Mr Maguire had engaged in corrupt conduct, or behaviour that may have been thought of corrupt.”
Mr Dutton emphatically rebuked the notion Ms Berejiklian was corrupt on Friday morning.
“I think she has paid a big price (for her relationship) … And her integrity is not in question,” he advised Channel 9.
“She’s not a corrupt person. That’s not the person I know.
“And I think she should hold her head high. She had a bad relationship, as everybody does, and I hope that’s not the defining moment for her, because she’s a much better person and we all know that.”
NSW shadow well being minister Matt Kean has additionally backed in his former colleague – saying that though he acknowledged Ms Berejiklian had breached the ministerial code of conduct – and had due to this fact engaged in corrupt conduct – he knew her as a “person of honesty integrity”.
He additionally stated there have been query marks round why it took ICAC two years at hand down its findings.
“Why did it take ICAC two years to hand down a finding of something we knew two years ago, and name her seriously corrupt – yet not corrupt enough to refer off to the DPP to face criminal charges?” he advised ABC News.
“It shouldn’t take two years for the ICAC to hand down that report … They didn’t need to create all the media circus, which they did – they issued the release date via press release as if it was a Taylor Swift concert.
“Integrity probes aren’t a soap opera, and justice isn’t a show.”
Ms Berejiklian on Thursday night issued a press release, saying that the report was “currently being examined by my legal team”.
“Serving the people of NSW was an honour and privilege. At all times I have worked by hardest in the public interest,” she stated.
“Nothing in this report demonstrates otherwise.
“Thank you to members of the public for their incredible support. This will sustain me always.”
ICAC’s key findings in opposition to Gladys Berejiklian
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
