Gladys Berejiklian has resigned as New South Wales Premier amid an investigation into her conduct by the state's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
But she's adamant she's executed her duties with the "highest levels of integrity", and the issues she's being investigated over are ones that she has already been wrongly criticised over by political opponents.
"I want to be clear, in all the decisions I have made as Minister or Premier of New South Wales, my first consideration has always been the wellbeing and welfare of the people of this state," she said at an emotional press conference on Friday.
"History will demonstrate I have executed my duties again with the highest level of integrity for the benefit the people of New South Wales for who I have had the privilege to serve."
The ICAC is investigating whether Premier Gladys Berejiklian breached public trust when she awarded grants to a number of community organisations between 2012 and 2018.
The probe will look into whether Berejiklian's public duties and her personal relationship with then-NSW Member of Parliament Daryl Maguire ever caused a conflict of interest.
During the press conference, Berejiklian said she was stepping aside because she did not want to be a distraction amid the COVID-19 outbreak, which is currently ravaging the state.
She said if any of her ministers were the subject of allegations being investigated by an integrity agency or law enforcement, she would encourage them to step aside until their name was cleared.
However since she is the Premier, Berejiklian says she had no choice but to resign completely as the people of NSW "need certainty" during the pandemic.
"I've had to make an extremely difficult decision overnight, one I feel obliged to do because of the love and respect I have for the people of New South Wales and the high regard with which I hold the office of Premier," she told media.
"I was advised late afternoon the Independent Commission Against Corruption would today release a public statement in which it was stated it is investigating allegations about me concerning matters relating to the former Member for Wagga Wagga."
Berejiklian said she trusted whoever her successor was to do an effective job bringing Delta back under control, but made it clear resigning was not a call she had wanted to make.
