ICAC bombshell: Scott Morrison refuses to comment on Gladys Berejiklian inquiry
The Prime Minister says he has worked well with embattled NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian in the past but he has refused to comment on the ICAC inquiry which has rocked her leadership.
NSW
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has distanced himself from the NSW premier after bombshell evidence emerged of her relationship with a former MP under investigation for corruption.
Gladys Berejiklian appeared before the state’s Independent Commission Against Corruption on Monday in relation to allegations against Daryl Maguire.
Speaking from Brisbane on Monday, Mr Morrison attempted to distance himself from his Liberal Party counterpart, refusing to comment on whether she should stand down following the explosive evidence.
“I have worked well with the NSW premier over many years, but that is a matter for her and an ongoing inquiry, and I don’t intend to make commentary on those matters, as you’d expect,” he said.
“I am going to allow that process to follow its own course.”
When asked if Ms Berejiklian continued to have his support, Mr Morrison talked around the issue.
“I’ll continue to obviously work with the premier of NSW,” he said.
“Nothing will ever distract me from the jobs of Australians... I will continue to work with all premiers and chief ministers.”
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Mr Morrison said he had no knowledge of Monday’s revelations and it had come “as some news” to him.
“But that said I mean the work that the premier has done in NSW in managing the COVID-19 crisis has been exemplary, it really has,” he said.
Mr Morrison said NSW had shown the way in the COVID-19 health and economic response.
“There has been a 70 per cent clawback of jobs there, compared to 44 per cent in Queensland,” he said.
TWO MINISTERS SUPPORT EMBATTLED PREMIER
Attorney-General Mark Speakman said he had no knowledge of his premier’s “close personal relationship” with Daryl Maguire before it emerged at the ICAC on Monday.
But Mr Speakman refused to comment on whether he would throw his hat in the ring if Ms Berejiklian resigns.
“I was unaware of the close personal relationship about which she gave evidence,” he said.
He said she was a fantastic premier and had his support.
And Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres has also thrown his support behind the Premier.
“Gladys Berejiklian has led the state through the last six months in its most testing period of time, she’s got my full support,” he said.
Mr Ayres is from Ms Berejiklian’s ‘Moderate’ faction.
“I’ve got no doubt that she will always be putting the people of NSW first,” he said.
MARK LATHAM CALLS FOR PREMIER TO GO
However, One Nation leader Mark Latham says the Premier’s position is “untenable” following the explosive ICAC revelations.
The One Nation Leader said her leadership is “completely and utterly unsustainable” because of “what appears to be her manic determination to keep the people of NSW in the dark”.
Mr Latham said the relationship, which he said Ms Berejiklian should have declared on her pecuniary interests register, raised questions over her decision making as Premier.
Ms Berejiklian told the ICAC she “would never do anything to jeopardise” her obligation to serve the people of NSW.
“I would never ever turn a blind eye on any responsibility I had to disclose any wrongdoing I saw,” she said.
“It’s just unthinkable that she can stay a day longer as Premier,” Mr Latham said.
And Labor leader Jodi McKay has called for Ms Berejiklian to resign.
“Gladys Berejiklian cannot walk in to the parliament tomorrow as Premier of NSW, given her evidence at ICAC today,” she said.
“She must resign.”