The state branch of the Liberal Party has issued an apology to the people of NSW for the ‘‘reprehensible’’ conduct of its politicians revealed before the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
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Premier Mike Baird said the Liberals would not contest byelections in Newcastle and Charlestown, to be held on October 25, as a result.
‘‘This decision is a symbol that says we are sorry for the actions that have been seen over the past few days and weeks,’’ Mr Baird said. ‘‘We strongly believe we have forfeited our right to represent those electorates – but we will never stop delivering on those services we have committed to,’’ Mr Baird told The Sun-Herald.
A horror week for the Baird government included the resignations of two Liberal MPs from the NSW Parliament, forcing the byelections, after admitting they had accepted $10,000 in illegal cash donations in paper envelopes and lied. The number of NSW politicians suspended from the Liberal Party has swelled to eight.
In an open letter to NSW voters, Liberals state director Tony Nutt will say on Sunday the Liberal Party apologises for the ‘‘extraordinary and reprehensible conduct of a small number of its elected representatives, members and activists’’.
‘‘The revelations have disgusted the honest, law-abiding parliamentarians, elected office bearers, members, donors and supporters of the Liberal Party,’’ Mr Nutt writes.
Mr Baird apologised on Saturday in a letter to voters in the Hunter region, where most of the Liberal MPs named in the ICAC inquiry are based. He said he would go ‘‘house by house, suburb by suburb’’ to restore trust in his government in the Hunter, if necessary, before contesting the general election in March.
‘‘We will be back,’’ he said. ‘‘We need to get our house in order.’’
As the ICAC hearings roll on, scrutinising Liberal fund-raising and revealing schemes to solicit illegal donations from property developers at the 2011 election, the Liberals are facing a donations drought just seven months out from next year’s state election.
The ICAC will not deliver its report until December, just three months before voters go to the polls, destabilising efforts to preselect candidates in central coast and Hunter seats.
Following the ICAC’s latest revelations, Mr Baird said he was urging the expert panel that is examining election funding laws, headed by former public servant Kerry Schott, to look closely at ways to introduce full public funding.
Dr Schott has previously said she believed the High Court would find full public funding unconstitutional.
Mr Baird said: ‘‘There are challenges, but I want it considered – is there any way we can implement it?’’ The Schott review will deliver its findings sooner than the original December deadline, and other donations reform will be taken urgently, before the 2015 election, Mr Baird said.
The NSW Liberals have handed control of fund-raising and finances, at Mr Baird’s request, to former premier John Fahey, who recently retired from catching sports cheats as president of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Mr Nutt said the Liberal Party was co-operating with the ICAC and overhauling its internal processes to ensure compliance with the law.
Mr Baird said he had spoken out against the corrosive influence of donations in his first speech to the Parliament and the revelations at the ICAC ‘‘makes me determined to change it and to change NSW politics’’.
