Category Archives: Gladys Berejiklian

Ceasefire ‘needed desperately’, PM says in joint statement – as it happened

Posted on by

This blog is now closed

Q: Will Malarndirri McCarthy, the assistant minister for Indigenous Australians, replace you?

Linda Burney said that was “way above [her] pay grade” but that McCarthy was a dear friend:

The most important thing is for me to support whoever it is in the role and to give them the space to be able to chart their own path … Aboriginal affairs is every minister’s responsibility, not just the minister for Indigenous Australians.

My job is to support that person as much as I can.

Continue reading...

Gladys Berejiklian loses legal challenge against Icac serious corrupt conduct finding

Posted on by

Former NSW premier sought review of corruption watchdog decision that she failed to declare a personal conflict of interest regarding two government grants

The former New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian has lost her legal challenge against an anti-corruption watchdog finding that she engaged in “serious corrupt conduct”.

Berejiklian had argued the finding by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) was invalid because the commissioner was no longer at Icac when the findings were handed down.

Continue reading...

Former NSW government accused of ‘pork barrelling at public’s expense’ after scathing audit

Posted on by

The $5bn post-pandemic spending program ‘not informed by robust research or analysis’ auditor general finds

Labor has accused the former New South Wales Coalition government of “pork barrelling at the public’s expense” after the auditor general found the design of a $5bn scheme to funnel money into areas worst hit by Covid lockdowns “lacked integrity”.

In a report released on Wednesday, Margaret Crawford found that more than $1bn was allocated to “low or moderate merit” infrastructure projects in western Sydney as part of the massive post-pandemic spending program WestInvest.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Daryl Maguire had ‘emotional hold’ over Gladys Berejiklian, Icac lawyer tells court

Posted on by

The disgraced MP for Wagga was a ‘special kind of serial pest’ but ex-premier’s shared vision of the future with him clouded her judgment, court hears

Gladys Berejiklian’s former boyfriend, the disgraced ex-MP Daryl Maguire, was a “special kind of serial pest” who had an “emotional hold” over the former state premier, a lawyer representing the New South Wales corruption watchdog has told a court.

Defending the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s findings of corrupt conduct on the part of Berejiklian, Stephen Free SC told the court of appeal Berejiklian’s “vision for her future” with her Liberal colleague had impacted her judgment.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Gladys Berejiklian is fighting to clear her name after Icac’s adverse findings. Is it a risk worth taking?

Posted on by

The former NSW premier will launch her legal appeal next month, but some say the extended public attention may further damage her reputation

Using the courts to clear one’s reputation can seem like a logical path, but it can also backfire spectacularly.

Even victory can prove pyrrhic, as waves of publicity accompanying every court appearance lead to a retelling of the original slur.

Continue reading...

Gladys Berejiklian argues Icac finding invalid because commissioner’s term had ended

Posted on by

Former NSW premier contends Ruth McColl was not authorised to complete report – and that corruption finding not supported by evidence

The former New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian, will contend that the commissioner who found she had engaged in serious corrupt conduct was not authorised to make the decision, and the finding is invalid.

Berejiklian filed a summons for a judicial review in the NSW court of appeal last week in relation to findings of serious corrupt conduct made against her by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) in Operation Keppel.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Smorgasbord of conspiracy theories join forces at Sydney’s unofficial no rally – as it happened

Posted on by

This blog is now closed

And now that I’ve introduced you to the “wanking off the dolphin” story, I’m going to skedaddle. Jordyn Beazley is set to steer the mighty blog ship for the next little bit, enjoy!

Our reporter Ben Doherty has been following developments at the UN this week and here’s the top of his story on Penny Wong’s speech, which was delivered in New York this morning Australian time.

With its special responsibility as a permanent member of the security council, Russia mocks the UN every day it continues its illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine.

The rest of the permanent members and all member states must be unyielding in our response to Russia’s grave violation of Article II of our shared UN charter.

Continue reading...

Daryl Maguire’s lawyers accuse media of stalking, unsafe U-turns and spooking horses

Posted on by

Oddly worded statement attacks unnamed outlets for alleged behaviour after Icac findings against former MP and his former partner Gladys Berejiklian

Lawyers for Daryl Maguire have attacked journalists for their alleged behaviour since damning corruption findings were made against the former Wagga Wagga MP last week, issuing a strangely worded statement accusing unnamed “media” of “unsafe u turns”, spooking “valuable horses” and trespassing on government-owned rail corridors, among other things.

Maguire’s lawyers also praise their client’s efforts to secure money for Wagga, including his pursuit of grants and hospital funding that were at the centre of Icac’s corruption investigation.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Federal budget on track to smash surplus forecasts as cash balance hits $19bn – as it happened

Posted on by

This blog is now closed

Melbourne hit by magnitude 4.6 earthquake

Melburnians were shaken by a magnitude 4.6 earthquake at 1.32am.

Continue reading...

Icac found Gladys Berejiklian engaged in corrupt conduct. So why won’t she be prosecuted?

Posted on by

Her former boyfriend Daryl Maguire may face charges, but proving criminal activity by the former premier would be difficult

On Thursday, the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption dealt a blow to the legacy of former premier Gladys Berejiklian in ruling she engaged in serious corrupt conduct while in office.

Icac’s Operation Keppel also found her ex-boyfriend and former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire, as well as two other individuals, engaged in corrupt conduct and is seeking advice on whether any prosecution should be commenced against the three.

Continue reading...

Gladys Berejiklian Icac report live updates: Chris Minns says findings took ‘way too long’ as Matt Kean criticises ‘ridiculous display’ – latest news

Posted on by

Icac finds former premier and Daryl Maguire engaged in ‘serious corrupt conduct’, but says it does not want the DPP to consider prosecuting Berejiklian. Follow live updates

We are waiting on the publication of the Icac report. But it appears the Icac website has crashed under the load.

Stay with us. We will bring you the findings as soon as we possibly can.

Continue reading...

Australia news live: Tanya Plibersek announces audit of 1,000 environmental offset sites to check if they are delivering on promises

Posted on by

Treasurer Jim Chalmers wants to maintain strong budget position while rolling out existing policies; federal government cancels satellite program. Follow the day’s news live

The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, denies Australia’s first budget surplus in more than a decade comes at the expense of under-pressure households as the cost of living rises, AAP reports.

Chalmers has confirmed there will be a larger surplus for the 2022/23 financial year than predicted in last month’s federal budget.

By getting the budget in much better nick by finding savings ... it actually makes it possible from that much stronger foundation to provide the $15bn of cost-of-living relief that we had in the budget.

Continue reading...

Icac finds former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and Daryl Maguire engaged in serious corrupt conduct

Posted on by

Berejiklian stood down in 2021 after it was revealed she was in a ‘close personal relationship’ with Maguire, who was also found to be corrupt by Icac’s Operation Keppel

Former New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian has been found to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct by the state’s corruption watchdog.

However the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) has not recommended charges be pursued against Berejiklian.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

NSW agent general to UK approved ad attacking Labor tax policy before 2019 election

Posted on by

Exclusive: In former role leading NSW Business Chamber, Stephen Cartwright approved campaign targeting a business policy in three key seats

The man appointed by the New South Wales government to a senior London trade role approved negative television ads that targeted a Labor business tax policy at the last state election in his previous job as head of the NSW Business Chamber.

Separately, a NSW parliamentary inquiry heard testimony this week that the NSW agent general to the UK, Stephen Cartwright, went over the head of his manager, Investment NSW chief Amy Brown, and messaged Liberal trade minister Stuart Ayres directly in a dispute about a cost of living allowance.

Continue reading...

Gladys Berejiklian could be a ‘great federal MP’, says NSW premier Dominic Perrottet

Posted on by

NSW Liberals reportedly working on plan to have Berejiklian run for a federal seat in 2025

New South Wales premier, Dominic Perrottet, says his predecessor would make a great federal member of parliament, amid reports about Gladys Berejiklian’s potential return to politics.

Referring to a News Corp report that the NSW Liberals were working on a plan to have Berejiklian run for a federal seat – possibly North Sydney – at the 2025 election, Perrottet said her abilities would translate well at the federal level.

Continue reading...

NSW grants review recommends against making pork-barrelling a criminal offence

Posted on by

Productivity commissioner releases report following Icac hearings involving former premier Gladys Berejiklian

A review of the New South Wales government’s grants spend has recommended against making pork-barrelling a criminal offence, instead arguing grants administrators should document when ministers and politicians try to influence the grants process.

The NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, asked the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the productivity commissioner, Peter Achterstraat, to review grants in the state in November last year, after his predecessor, Gladys Berejiklian, gave evidence to the state’s anti-corruption watchdog that the government “threw money at seats to keep them” and grants were made to help win votes.

Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning

Continue reading...

Scott Morrison’s Icac claims are ‘absolute rubbish’, say transparency experts

Posted on by

Legal figures say it is ‘ridiculous’ for the PM to call the NSW corruption commission a ‘kangaroo court’ that has led to too many politicians resigning

Transparency experts have criticised as “absolute rubbish” Scott Morrison’s claims that the resignations of New South Wales Liberal premiers Nick Greiner and Barry O’Farrell show the Independent Commission Against Corruption is a “kangaroo court”.

On the defensive after effectively ditching his commitment to create a federal anti-corruption body, Morrison complained on Friday that the NSW Icac had resulted in politicians quitting “too many times”.

Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning

Continue reading...

John Barilaro takes executive director role with Sydney property developer

Posted on by

The former NSW deputy premier advised parliament’s ethics office he may engage with government in his Coronation Property role

Former New South Wales deputy premier John Barilaro has started working with Sydney property developer Coronation Property, just weeks after leaving parliament.

The company, which said it had $1.4bn worth of projects under way, and a further $5bn in the pipeline, will employ Barilaro as its executive director.

Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning

Continue reading...

Morrison accuses critics of wanting ‘kangaroo court’ as Liberal MP crosses floor over integrity bill

Posted on by

PM says Gladys Berejiklian was ‘done over’ by NSW Icac but Tasmanian MP Bridget Archer says government needs to act

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has accused critics of wanting a “kangaroo court” to oversee federal parliament after he faced an internal revolt over the Coalition’s failure to establish a commonwealth integrity commission.

On Thursday morning, the Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer crossed the floor to support independent MP Helen Haines’ push to establish a federal integrity commission. Archer had told Guardian Australia she was frustrated with the government’s “inertia” on the issue.

Continue reading...

‘Part of the love circle’: 10 memorable moments from Gladys Berejiklian’s Icac appearance

Posted on by

Former NSW premier faces a barrage of questions about her former secret boyfriend Daryl Maguire

Roughly a month after resigning as New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian fronted the Independent Commission Against Corruption and faced a barrage of questions about her former secret boyfriend and Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire, whether she gave him favourable treatment, or failed to act on suspicions he was involved in corrupt conduct.

Bombshell is an overused word. But today’s hearing contained at least 10.

Continue reading...