Timing is everything when it comes to ICAC revelations

It is understandable for Troy Bramston to address the Gladys Berejiklian crisis in the manner he has (“Berejiklian should have stepped down a year ago”, 5/10). Berejiklian found herself in the middle of a political and personal dilemma of her own making, and under normal circumstances she probably would have fallen on her sword. However, the Covid crisis changed all of that.

To have stood down or resigned over a fairly trivial matter – let’s face it, more serious events have often been toughed out by hardened politicians – would have been seen as Gladys deserting the sinking ship. Instead, she made a call to remain and fight the good fight against Covid, which she looks like winning if her successor does not stuff up. It was the right decision for NSW; no one who succeeded her could have achieved what she did with pure political courage.

If she survives this current onslaught, the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption should be disbanded. It has not covered itself in glory in the past and the timing of its assault on Berejiklian has been inept.

Peter D. Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

Troy Bramston’s contention that Gladys Berejiklian should have stepped down a year ago is spot-on. The reality is ICAC is not investigating her for her choice of boyfriend. Under investigation are the $5.5m grant to the Australian Clay Target Association in Wagga Wagga for its clubhouse and the allocation of $20m to a Wagga Wagga music conservatorium. These are not small amounts, given it is public money.

The question regarding her conduct stems from section 11 of the ICAC Act, which required her to report any matter she suspected was untoward. Many who listened to her phone remarks when she appeared before ICAC last year would find it difficult to conclude that she was totally oblivious to what the former member for Wagga Wagga was doing.

Berejiklian also bewails that this inquiry could not have come at a worse time. ICAC did not ask her to resign; she took that decision. By law, ICAC is not permitted to defer or delay an investigation. To do so would sully its judgments with political overtones and undermine its integrity as an independent body.

Frank Carroll, Moorooka, Qld

Troy Bramston argues “the notion that ICAC should have delayed a further public inquiry because it was not convenient in the middle of a pandemic is ludicrous”.

Parliament was suspended because of the pandemic. Criminal trials were deferred during the pandemic. Offices and other places of business were closed, many permanently. Major sporting events, theatrical productions and even the Olympics were postponed or cancelled because of the pandemic, and millions of lives were put on hold, jobs and livelihoods lost and relationships destroyed.

But to defer a public ICAC hearing, that would be ludicrous? I must be missing something.

Shayne Thompson, Queens Park, NSW

The Australian’s editorial “No entity should be above the law, including ICAC” (5/10) is absolutely right. You chronicle the list of obvious failures of the NSW ICAC which, once NSW is back in business, should be one of the first tasks of incoming Premier Dominic Perrottet. ICAC as it is structured and as demonstrated by the forced resignation of Gladys Berejiklian clearly does not meet the standards of procedural fairness and justice.

There must be a review leading to a much fairer system if ICAC is to survive. One good thing to emerge from this latest episode is that at least Amanda Stoker will ensure that whatever model the federal government opts for, it won’t look anything like NSW ICAC.

Michael Fishpool, Carindale, Qld

It’s great news that NSW is to have a conservative Liberal premier in Dominic Perrottet. It has been a while. The result will be enhanced electoral appeal for the party.

The Liberal Party has always been fundamentally a conservative party. Or at the very least a broad church as John Howard, himself an avowed conservative, liked to believe.

Hopefully Perrottet’s elevation will encourage Scott Morrison to demonstrate he has the courage of the convictions many of us thought he had when he was elected.

John Bradford, Mermaid Beach, Qld