Chris Eccles resigns as head of Department of Premier and Cabinet as fears in NSW grow over number of locally transmitted cases. Follow all the latest updates
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12.11am BST
The New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has told the Independent Commission Against Corruption that she was in “a close personal relationship” with the former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire when he was forced to resign from parliament in 2018.
Maguire is currently subject to an Icac investigation for allegedly misusing his public office in the pursuit of his own financial interests, in particular a company called G8wayinternational Pty Ltd.
12.08am BST
More from Eccles’s statement. The public servant says that he is “emphatic” that neither he nor the premier’s department made the decision to use private security in hotel quarantine.
It is also with clarity that I reaffirm the evidence I provided to the Covid-19 hotel quarantine board of inquiry and the department’s closing submission to the Board.
My evidence is emphatic that neither myself nor the Department of Premier and Cabinet made a decision to use private security as part of the hotel quarantine program.
Continue reading…Chris Eccles resigns as head of Department of Premier and Cabinet as fears in NSW grow over number of locally transmitted cases. Follow all the latest updatesFollow our global coronavirus live blogFull Australian Covid stats; Covid restrictions state by stateNSW cases map; Vic cases mapNSW hotspots list; Qld hotspots listSign up for Guardian Australia’s coronavirus email 12.11am BSTThe New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has told the Independent Commission Against Corruption that she was in “a close personal relationship” with the former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire when he was forced to resign from parliament in 2018.Maguire is currently subject to an Icac investigation for allegedly misusing his public office in the pursuit of his own financial interests, in particular a company called G8wayinternational Pty Ltd. 12.08am BSTMore from Eccles’s statement. The public servant says that he is “emphatic” that neither he nor the premier’s department made the decision to use private security in hotel quarantine.It is also with clarity that I reaffirm the evidence I provided to the Covid-19 hotel quarantine board of inquiry and the department’s closing submission to the Board. My evidence is emphatic that neither myself nor the Department of Premier and Cabinet made a decision to use private security as part of the hotel quarantine program. Continue reading…