The fiasco in NSW makes clear that the public expects leaders to exhibit the highest standards of probity in the exercise of their offices
As the New South Wales Icac investigation rolls on, the big-ticket questions remain. Did the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, take reasonable steps to avoid any conflict of interest, real or apparent? Did she knowingly turn a blind eye and cover her ears on the dubious business dealings of Daryl Maguire, with whom she was in a relationship? And most importantly, did she make parliamentary decisions on matters that had a bearing on his private business interests without disclosing to her cabinet colleagues a potential conflict of interest?
The premier had options and she made choices. She could have consulted with her cabinet colleagues to stress-test real or potential conflicts of interest, she could have made disclosures through the register of ministerial interests, and she could have sought counsel from the NSW parliamentary ethics adviser, whose role it is to “provide confidential advice to members of parliament on ethical issues concerning the exercise of their role including conflicts of interest”. The ultimate choice she had was whether it was in the public interest to continue a relationship with someone whom she had sacked for corruption in 2018. Berejiklian told reporters after giving evidence at Icac she had “at all times” kept her private and public interests apart. She insisted she had not needed to disclose her ties to Maguire and that she had done nothing wrong.
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