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The New South Wales Anti-Corruption Agency is investigating corruption allegations against a disgraceful state legislator who has a secret relationship with the Premier.
The governor of New South Wales (NSW), Gladys Berejiklian, in the state’s corruption regulator, said she was investigating whether she was involved in behavior that “constituted or involved a breach of public trust” and suddenly resigned.
“I love my job… but I have no choice,” Berejiklian said at a press conference on Friday, adding that the issue under investigation is a “historical issue.”
“I categorically declare that I have always acted with the highest level of integrity,” she said.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption of New South Wales (ICAC) stated in a statement on its website that as part of the ongoing investigation “Operation Keppel”, it will hold a further public hearing on October 18.
The investigation has heard that Berejiklian has a secret relationship with a state legislator who is the focus of its corruption investigation.
The ICAC statement stated that the scope of the commission’s investigation has been expanded to include “whether Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP was engaged in acts that constituted or involved violations of public trust by exercising public functions while she was in a dangerous situation during the period from 2012 to 2018. As a person with a personal relationship with the then New South Wales State Assemblyman, Mr. Darryl Maguire, there is a conflicting position between her public duties and her private interests.”
The potential violation involves grant funds promised to community organizations in the Wagga Wagga constituency in Maguire.
Maguire said in an investigation last year that he received envelopes containing thousands of dollars in cash at the parliamentary office as part of a plan for Chinese citizens to fraudulently obtain visas.
Berejiklian also told anti-corruption agencies last year that she maintained a “close personal relationship” with Maguire “before and after the 2015 state elections”.
She said that she has kept the relationship confidential because she is a “very private person.”
She said: “The timing of my resignation as governor couldn’t have been worse, but the timing was completely beyond my control because the ICAC chose to be in the most challenging weeks of the most challenging period in the history of New South Wales. Take this action.” On Friday.
After she announced the news, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised Barry Jacqueline and added that she is a good friend who “shows heroic qualities” at work.
“I know she is trusted and respected by the people of New South Wales,” he added.
Following the resignation of Mike Baird, Berejiklian became Governor of New South Wales in January 2017.
Since 2003, she has represented northern Sydney in the state legislature and previously served as the state’s Minister of Finance and Transport.
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