Gladys has plenty of credit in the good character ‘bank’

It seems clear, by his admissions to ICAC, Daryl Maguire misused for his own purposes the NSW Parliament and Gladys Berejiklian (“Lover’s bags of cash visa scam”, 15/10).

Berejiklian has emerged from intense interrogation by that body and from gruelling scrutiny by the media with her integrity intact. Her public standing remains high, if a trifle smudged by what is perceived poor judgment in a personal relationship. Nobody’s perfect and that smudge is scarcely a hanging offence for which she should relinquish office, or be cast from it, in the absence of proven corruption or other misconduct inimical to her continuance as Premier.

Berejiklian’s bank of good character encourages her retention and should bolster public confidence in that course. As Niki Savva writes (“Breaking up with Gladys would be tragic”, 15/10), Australia is not so blessed with competent leaders it can afford to let one go because of a lapse in judgment that was of no benefit to her. Her loss would be felt keenly.

Ian Dunlop, Hawks Nest, NSW

I feel it is premature to forecast the demise of Gladys Berejiklian when ICAC hearings are still being held. There is little doubt her error was to hitch herself to Daryl Maguire, who seems to present as a dishonest member of the Liberal Party. However, it should be noted Berejiklian’s error pales into insignificance when compared with the report that Queensland Labor sold to Tabcorp and KPMG access to Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath despite legislation having been introduced by D’Ath to outlaw cash-for-access (“Labor sold betting giant access to A-G”, 15/10).

It would also be counter-productive for Berejiklian either to resign or be deposed, despite some media assistance in enabling her demise. Compared with premiers Daniel Andrews and Annastacia Palaszczuk, Berejiklian has done an outstanding job in suppressing COVID-19, keeping borders open and wherever possible assisting keeping businesses operating and personnel in employment.

Nick Bailey, Ngunnawal, ACT

I feel great compassion for Premier Gladys Berejiklian. As a woman who was divorced at 30 years of age I have lived alone for the past 30-plus years. It was not by choice I did not remarry. It was because all the good men were taken and in long-term marriages. It is not what Berejiklian did — it was that she risked it all for a man who was ordinary and, as it turns out, he was also corrupt. If the Premier had an affair with a remarkable man who was respected by his country, his community and his peers it would have been easier to accept.

Lizzie Haydon, Runcorn, Qld

I’m 70. I’ve been happily married now for more than 40 years. But my heart bleeds for Gladys Berejiklian. Before I met my husband I had more failed relationships than I care to remember. But at least I had them. To give up your youth to follow your dream probably works for quite some time. And then suddenly someone comes into your life who makes you feel special. And you dismiss those misgivings because he makes you happy. Maybe it is “better to have lost”.

Valerie O’Neill, East Perth, WA

NSW has been blessed with the good fortune of having a Premier who, with outstanding skill and leadership, has guided us through a drought, bushfires, floods and a pandemic. She makes a curious choice for a boyfriend and there are those calling for her sacking. Yet in a neighbouring state the Premier has presided over more than 800 deaths, tens of thousands of the population are now unemployed, thousands of businesses have been forced to close, many forever, and the economy is devastated, yet he goes on his merry way every day with a seemingly unblemished record. Go figure.

Michael Brereton, North Epping, NSW

One can feel empathy for Gladys Berejiklian. She is not the first to enter into a clandestine relationship with a reprobate and not know the real person and will not be the last. Australian political history is littered with many such instances. It is very important Berejiklian does not buckle under the pressure she is experiencing. She needs to adopt the Labor Party stance here and tough it out. If she is found to have been in the know about Daryl Maguire’s activities then she has to go. However, she has told the NSW Parliament that she has not done anything untoward. That is good enough for me.

Peter D. Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic