Executive role secure: Optus declares faith in Gladys Berejiklian

The telco has publicly backed the former premier despite her role requiring she handle highly sensitive government contracts.

Optus executive Gladys Berejiklian’s high-profile telecommunications role will be unaffected by corruption findings against her, with the telco publicly backing the former NSW premier on Thursday despite her role requiring she handle sensitive government contracts.

Ms Berejiklian has served as Optus’ head of enterprise since February 2022, leading the company’s efforts to poach government contracts away from rival Telstra, and will keep her job despite findings of “serious corrupt conduct” against her by NSW’s independent watchdog relating to her time as the state’s premier.

ICAC on Thursday announced that Ms Berejiklian failed to act on her former lover Daryl Maguire’s corrupt conduct and that she must have known that she needed to report it to ICAC. It said she did not do so in order to “protect herself and him from the Commission exercising its investigative powers”. Despite its findings of corruption, ICAC said it would not recommend criminal charges against the former premier.

A spokeswoman for Optus referred to the former NSW premier’s statement and declined to comment further.

“Optus acknowledges the ICAC report published in relation to Gladys Berejiklian’s time serving as a Member of the NSW parliament,” the spokeswoman said.

“We refer you to Gladys’ media statement and have no further comment to make.”

The Optus spokeswoman and a representative for Ms Berejiklian declined to comment further. The Australian understands the former premier worked at Optus’ offices on Thursday.

One telecommunications industry executive told The Australian he was “gobsmacked” Optus was standing by Ms Berejiklian amid corruption findings being handed down.

“It beggars belief that a former premier who engaged in serious corrupt conduct can remain in charge of an Optus business that continues to handle highly sensitive government and enterprise contracts,” the executive said.

Ms Berejiklian weighed a tilt at federal politics after departing her role as premier, before deciding to join Optus in the newly created role of managing director, enterprise, business and institutional in a move that sent shockwaves through the telco sector. She joined Optus five months after resigning from politics amid ICAC’s corruption probe.

Optus chief executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin has previously backed Ms Berejiklian’s position at the company, last month declaring that the former premier’s conduct “had nothing to do with Optus”.

Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Ms Berejiklian on Thursday afternoon responded to the findings of the ICAC report, saying they were being examined by her legal team.

“Serving the people of NSW was an honour and privilege,” she said.

“At all times I have worked my hardest in the public interest. Nothing in this report demonstrates otherwise. Thank you to members of the public for their incredible support. This will sustain me always. The report is currently being examined by my legal team.”

The former premier previously held senior executive roles at the Commonwealth Bank before entering politics.

“I’m really looking forward to the next chapter. It won’t be in public life. It will be in the private sector,” she told 2GB upon joining Optus in February 2022.

“I won’t be contesting the seat of Warringah or any other federal seat for that matter. I’m looking forward to much less public life … I’m going in a different direction and I’m looking forward to the opportunities that next year brings.

“I’m really positive about the next chapter of my life and I’m always a very positive person. I think no matter what challenges you face … you can’t look in the rear vision mirror.”

Ms Bayer Rosmarin, who herself last year grappled with a major crisis in the form of one of Australia’s largest ever data breaches, called Ms Berejiklian a “game-changer” for Optus upon her appointment.

“Gladys is a proven leader who demonstrated her renowned strength, leadership, discipline, and composure in successfully guiding Australia’s largest state through one of the biggest challenges in its history while earning the support and gratitude of the community for her tireless contribution,” Ms Bayer Rosmarin said last February.

“She also builds and fosters loyal and dedicated teams who really go above and beyond for her.

“I believe she will be a game-changer for Optus.

“In bringing our business-focused teams together under this newly created role, I truly believe that our collective energies can deliver superior customer outcomes in market segments that continue to be dominated by the incumbent.”