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The premier of New South Wales (NSW), Gladys Berejiklian, resigned today after the state’s corruption watchdog said it was investigating whether she was involved in conduct that "constituted or involved a breach of public trust".
The NSW premier’s resignation has sent shockwaves across the country and the state, as NSW – which is worst-hit by COVID-19 in Australia – is trying to contain the pandemic and slated to open three-month long lockdown gradually.
"I state categorically I have always acted with the highest level of integrity," she said at a news conference.
She further stated that the country’s most populous state needs certainty over leadership as it is battling a strong third wave of the contagious pandemic.
"My resignation as premier could not occur at a worse time, but the timing is completely outside of my control, as the ICAC has chosen to take this action during the most challenging weeks, the most challenging times in the state's history," she said.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to resign, Dominic Perrottet likely to replace
The provincial Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said in a statement that it will hold further public hearings as part of its ongoing probe, code named as Operation Keppel, on October 18.
That probe has already heard that Berejiklian was once in a secret relationship with a state legislator who was under the radar of its corruption investigation.
