Gladys Berejiklian, the governor of New South Wales, Australia’s state with the largest economy, announced his resignation on the 1st. She may be involved in the case of her ex-boyfriend, and the state’s Independent Commission Against Corruption stated that it is investigating whether she participated in an act that “constituted or involved a violation of public trust.”
According to reports from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Berejiklian said at a press conference that the issue under investigation is a “historical issue”, but since the investigation may involve a long time, she has no choice but to resign as the governor. Job.
She said her resignation will take effect after the state’s ruling Liberal Party elects a new leader.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption of New South Wales (ICAC) stated on the 1st that it was investigating whether some of Berejiklian’s actions from 2012 to 2018 violated public trust, because she and the then New South Wales State Assemblyman Darryl? Daryl Maguire has a personal relationship.
Potential violations involve granting grants to community organizations in Maguire’s Wagga Wagga constituency, and whether she failed to report or encourage Maguire’s corruption. In a public investigation scheduled for October 18, the committee will examine whether there is a conflict between Berejiklian’s public duties and private interests.
According to reports, Berejiklian admitted during an investigation by the ICAC on October 12, 2020 that she was in contact with Maguire, a former state assemblyman involved in multiple corruption cases. The “close personal relationship” between the two began in 2015. , Until August 2020.
New South Wales is the most populous state in Australia, and Maguire has served as the NSW state councillor since 1999. He was accused of suspected of liaising with the local government of NSW for collecting commissions for Chinese real estate developers, so he resigned as a state councilor under political pressure inside and outside the party in July 2018. In another suspected corruption case, the Independent Commission Against Corruption also accused Maguire of using his position as the chairman of the “New South Wales Assembly Asia-Pacific Friendship Group” to expand business opportunities for the Shenzhen Asia-Pacific Business Development Association to many Pacific island countries, and Obtain improper benefits.
Since Maguire was accused of corruption at the time of his interaction with Berejiklin, the incident has attracted continued attention from the Australian media.
According to The Daily Telegraph website last year, an unnamed NSW cabinet minister believed that the secret relationship between Berejiklin and Maguire would definitely arouse “high interest” from the Chinese intelligence agencies. .
Another cabinet minister also said that after foreign forces discovered Berejiklian’s secret love relationship, she may have become a target of threats by foreign forces.
The report also stated that the relationship between Berejiklian and the Chinese Communist government has also attracted the attention of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. When she attended the hearing on October 12, 2020, an ICAC official showed a photo of her meeting with Maguire and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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