Cessnock MP Clayton Barr has expressed sadness at the resignation of Premier Barry O’Farrell describing such behaviour as damaging to all elected representatives.
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Mr Barr, a member of the Labor party, said Mr O’Farrell’s questionable conduct risked tarring all elected representatives with the same brush.
“It’s disappointing,” Mr Barr said. “This type of behaviour labels all politicians regardless of their position in parliament.”
O'Farrell has resigned after being caught out lying to a corruption inquiry after a handwritten note was tendered in which he thanked the head of a company linked to the Obeid family for a $3000 bottle of wine.
“I can’t believe that O’Farrell has made such a monumental mistake,” Mr Barr, a first-term MP said. “I’m brand new to politics and there are some things you learn very quickly.
“Rule number one; don’t get called to ICAC [Independent Commission Against Corruption].
“And rule two; if you do get called, tell the truth.”
ICAC heard explosive evidence on Tuesday that the then chief executive of Obeid-linked infrastructure company Australian Water Holdings, Nick Di Girolamo, sent Mr O'Farrell the $2978 bottle of 1959 Penfolds Grange Hermitage around April 20, 2011.
Mr Di Girolamo was accused of ''trying to butter Mr O'Farrell up'' over a public-private partnership proposal by having the gift sent by courier to Mr O'Farrell's Roseville home, a suggestion he denied.
The office of Maitland MP and Minister for Environment Robyn Parker has declined to comment at this time.