Why wouldnt the Liberals run a candidate with ICAC baggage – the ALP did – The Sydney Morning Herald

As one analyst wrote: Lawrence was a state premier whose federal career was dogged by ghosts of her state past.

Lawrence did go on to become federal president of the ALP, just as former NSW premier Nick Greiner became federal president of his party, although he was the first major victim of the states Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Longstanding allegations followed Carmen Lawrence into federal parliament.Credit:Robert Pearce

He won the dubious title of first as he was the one who set up the ICAC. The NSW Court of Appeal later overturned its findings against him. But the ICAC went on to fell other Liberal premiers including Barry OFarrell and most recently Berejiklian.

One who did escape the curse was Mike Baird whose only appearance before the ICAC was in October, as a witness, to criticise his successor for not disclosing her Maguire romance.

That might make it a tad difficult for him to endorse Berejiklian in the northern suburbs seat for which only a few months ago he himself was being touted as a candidate.

Not to worry, though. There have been plenty of federal Libs keen to endorse the Gladys-for-Canberra push from Simon Birmingham to Katie Allen and now former PM and ex Warringah MP Tony Abbott.

Polls show St Gladys also still enjoys strong support among women from the ordinary voter to many in the powerful womens business lobby who seem content to overlook their usual dismay at the lack of integrity in politics in this particular case.

Apparently, simply being perceived as competent is enough to offset any misconduct allegations, which shows just how low the bar is for our political class these days.

Being an equal opportunity kangaroo court, as Prime Minister Morrison so ludicrously labelled it last week, the ICAC has also claimed plenty of powerful ALP scalps not the least being the odious Eddie Obeid.

It was the watchdogs lengthy examinations into everyone in Obeids orbit and the question of how successive governments enabled his corruption, that led former premier Keneally into the ICAC witness box.

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Keneally was never the subject of any ICAC criticism as the sensitive Senator constantly reminds any journalist who dares raise the issue.

Keneally is being parachuted into the federal lower house seat of Fowler at the upcoming election. Imagine the irony if the ambitious former Labor premier were to one day run for PM against the woman currently being touted as a future federal Liberal leader, Gladys Berejiklian. Hopefully, the question of a Federal Integrity Commission would not be an election issue by then.

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Why wouldnt the Liberals run a candidate with ICAC baggage - the ALP did - The Sydney Morning Herald