Some $10 million had already been approved in funding, meaning the Maguire-electorate conservatorium had received more funding than all the other conservatoria in regional Australia combined. The state government gave the Maguire-electorate gun club $5.5 million in 2017, while Berejiklian was state Treasurer.Īnd in 2018, it awarded an additional $20 million in funding to the conservatorium. Specifically, it’s probing whether two funding grants promised to Australian Clay Target Association, a gun club, and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music occurred due to her relationship with the then-local MP Maguire. The announcement of the inquiry comes after an explosive ICAC hearing last year uncovered Berejiklian’s relationship with disgraced former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire. “My resignation as Premier could not happen at a worse time, but the timing is completely outside of my control as the ICAC has chosen to take this action during the most challenging weeks of the most challenging times in the history of NSW,” she said. In her parting words, Berejiklian took a swipe at ICAC for the timing of the investigation which comes as NSW fights its Delta outbreak and manages lockdowns. Why is ICAC launching the investigation now? O’Farrell was eventually cleared by ICAC. So far, ICAC has investigated dozens of politicians, and triggered the resignation of former Liberal Premier Barry O’Farrell in 2014 among several other high-profile names. It describes itself as an “important and exciting place to work”, with much of its work investigating the misuse of power and funds. It’s an independent agency established in 1988 tasked with investigating and eliminating corruption in state politics. The NSW ICAC is the thorn in state politicians’ sides. This is what led to Berejiklian’s resignation. It’s a departure from politics that no one wants.

Australia gladys berejiklian resigns