11/6/2023 0 Comments Gladys resignsI want to thank the thousands of our frontline heroes who have kept us safe and kept us going during the darkest days in our state’s history. I feel strong, energised and optimistic about the future of NSW. We will come through this period stronger, more resilient, and appreciating what really matters in life. Please give them your trust and confidence. However, I am extremely confident that whoever succeeds me will be more than capable to continue this job. My only regret will be not to be able to finish the job to ensure the people of NSW transition to living freely with Covid. I have done this many times, as we all have. At times we all stumble, we pick ourselves up, we dust ourselves off and start again stronger and wiser than before. I have absolutely no regrets during my time in public life. Notwithstanding the challenges of the last few years and few months in particular, I have never felt stronger, nor more confident in my leadership. I do not want to be a distraction from what should be the focus of the state government during this pandemic, which is the wellbeing of our citizens. To continue as premier would disrupt the state government during a time when our entire attention should be focused on the challenges confronting NSW. ![]() I love my job, and I love serving the community, but I have been given no option following the statement that has been issued today. Resigning at this time is against every instinct in my being and something which I do not want to do. My resignation as premier could not occur 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 state’s history. In order to allow the new leader and government a fresh start, I will also resign from the NSW parliament once I have consulted the electoral commission on appropriate timing for a byelection, given the Covid restrictions. My resignation will take effect as soon as the NSW Liberal party can elect a new parliamentary leader. Therefore, it pains me to announce that I have no option but to resign from the office of premier. I cannot predict how long it will take the Icac to complete this investigation, let alone deliver a report, in circumstances where I was first called to give evidence at a public hearing nearly 12 months ago. The people of this state need certainty as to who their leader is during the challenging times of the pandemic. ![]() However, standing aside is not an option for me as the premier of NSW. That same standard must always apply to me also as the premier. The reason for my stance was not to have made any presumptions as to their conduct, but rather to maintain the integrity of the public office which that person has held while that investigation was completed. I have made it clear on numerous occasions if any of my ministers were the subject of allegations being investigated by an integrity agency or law enforcement, then he or she should stand aside through the course of the investigation until their name was cleared. As the leader of the NSW government, I have expected the highest of standards of myself and my colleagues.
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