ICAC’s findings ended a wait of almost two years for a ruling on Berejiklian’s conduct,concluding she breached the public trust through the awarding of grants that Maguire had personally lobbied for without disclosing her “close personal relationship” with the then-Wagga Wagga MP.
An exclusive survey conducted by Resolve Strategic forThe Sydney Morning Heraldasked voters for their views on Berejiklian after the ICAC bombshell findings,with 51 per cent saying they still “liked and respected” her,while 25 per cent said they did not.
One-third of voters said ICAC had “eroded any positive views” they held about Berejiklian,while 42 per cent did not agree with that statement. Forty per cent of voters said Berejiklian did not need to resign as premier based on the ICAC findings,while 34 per believed she did.
Berejiklian abruptly quit as premier on October 1,2021,after ICAC announced that it was extending its inquiry into Maguire to include the conduct of Berejiklian.
Resolve director Jim Reed said the results for Berejiklian suggested “absence did not make the heart grow stronger” when it came to how voters felt about the former premier.
“Gladys Berejiklian still rates higher than her two successors,but has taken a significant hit since her heyday during COVID,” Reed said.