Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian will this morning learn the long-awaited findings made by an anti-corruption watchdog into her conduct.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry examined whether Berejiklian had breached the public trust or encouraged corrupt conduct during her secret relationship with disgraced former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire.
The report has been delayed twice, once in October last year and again in January this year due to the "complex matters of law and fact" but will be made public at 9am.
The findings will be delivered after two public inquiries held over 30 days, more than 2800 pages of transcript, 516 exhibits containing 10,600 pages, and 957 pages of submissions.
Operation Keppel
ICAC's Operation Keppel was originally established to examine whether Maguire breached public trust between 2012 and 2018 by awarding grants to Wagga Wagga community organisations - the Australian Clay Target Association and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music.
Throughout the hearings, Maguire admitted using his position as an MP, parliamentary secretary and NSW Asia-Pacific parliamentary friendship group chair "with a view to making money" for himself and his associates while in office.
Maguire resigned from parliament in 2018 after a separate inquiry into his property interests.
Maguire has since been charged with criminal conspiracy over an alleged visa fraud scheme.
During her appearance at the ICAC inquiry on October 12, 2020, Berejiklian made the bombshell revelation she had been in a secret relationship with Maguire between 2015 and 2018.
She denied any wrongdoing but said she did not disclose it publicly or to colleagues because she "didn't feel the relationship had sufficient substance to be made public".
Berejiklian's resignation
Berejiklian announced her resignation as NSW premier on October 1, 2021, after it was revealed Operation Keppel would be expanded to investigate her conduct, specifically whether she had breached public trust or been liable to "allow or encourage" alleged corrupt conduct by Maguire.
Berejiklian insisted she had always "acted with the highest level of integrity" but had "no option" but to quit despite the state's COVID-19 crisis.
"Notwithstanding the challenges of the last few years and few months in particular, I have never felt stronger, nor more confident in my leadership," Berejiklian said in announcing her resignation.
"I have absolutely no regrets during my time in public life."
Berejiklian was the third NSW Liberal premier to resign amid ICAC investigations, following the departures of Nick Greiner and Barry O'Farrell.
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