Premier resigns over a bottle of wine

Saturday, 26 April 2014 00:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Can a bottle of wine cost a Premier his position and power? It can – as it happened to the New South Wales Premier a few days back. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) questioned the Premier over a bottle of wine he had received from the CEO of the Australian Water Holdings valued at A$3,000 (SLR 360,000). He denied receiving such a gift but had to admit that he did, when a ‘thank you’ note written in his handwriting was tabled the next day.

He quoted a “massive memory fail” as the cause of the lapse the previous day and said he never wilfully misled the ICAC. The expensive bottle of wine received in April in 2011 had been manufactured 55 years ago. It was never declared, as required, on his register of monetary interests.At a press conference held immediately afterwards he announced his resignation. “I still can’t recall the receipt of a gift of a bottle of 1959 Grange,” Premier O’Farrell told reporters adding he cannot explain what happened to the bottle of wine. “But I do accept there is a thank you note signed by me, and as someone who believes in accountability, in responsibility, I accept the consequences of my action.”