THE astonishing announcement of the premier’s resignation will impact next year’s election, according to Liberal MLC Scot MacDonald.
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But he remains positive the government will be able to turn the tables.
“We have one year to show the electorate our new team and we prioritise financial sustainability and infrastructure,” he said.
Senior lecturer of political and international studies at the University of New England Tim Battin said political corruption is now considered to be systemic.
Dr Battin has studied the nature of corruption and said the investigations into NSW politics have put the issue on another level. He indicated the perception of corruption was another issue that would need to be dealt with.
“Both sides of politics are tarred with the same brush, and the common denominator in the cause of corruption is that politicians now see themselves as somehow untouchable,” Dr Battin said yesterday.
He explained corruption occurs when people are unaccountable and the way to deal with it was to improve transparency and accountability.
Labor MLC Mick Veitch agreed transparency was required to deal with corruption, saying he believed the watchdog was effective in its role.
He said the commission had a long history of bringing down governments, but it was vital for society to ensure practices of those in public life were honest.
Both sides of politics are tarred with the same brush, and the common denominator in the cause of corruption is that politicians now see themselves as somehow untouchable.
- Tim Battin, senior lecturer of political and international studies at the University of New England.
These issues have again emerged after Premier Barry O’Farrell’s announcement yesterday morning he was stepping down from his position. On Monday Mr O’Farrell denied to the commission he received a bottle of wine from the then chief executive of Australian Water Holdings Nick Di Girolamo.
Mr Di Girolamo is a friend of the Obeid family, and told the commission about the gift on Tuesday.
Mr O’Farrell said in a press conference yesterday he would formally resign next week at a meeting of the Liberal Party executive where a new leader will be elected.
While the announcement has come as a shock to local politicians, they expect it will be business as usual.
Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall didn’t anticipate the change would affect the electorate but said it was too early to tell what the impact would be.
His predecessor, Richard Torbay, is not the only high-profile local to be referred to the commission.
John Cassidy, former chancellor of the University of New England, was also referred in July last year over the sale of Tattersalls Hotel to Darrell Hendry, a former business associate of his.