Top QC told NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian she was on 'safe legal ground' ...

Top QC told NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian she was on 'safe legal ground' ...
Top QC told NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian she was on 'safe legal ground' ...

Gladys Berejiklian had been told by a leading lawyer that she was on solid ground legally to stay on as NSW Premier but she still resigned hours after receiving the advice.

Ms Berejiklian sought advice from Sydney barrister Bret Walker SC as she scrambled with her closest Liberal colleagues in late Thursday night meetings to find whether she was able to stay on as premier. 

Despite being told she was justified in staying on, and having agreed with key ministers in a Thursday night meeting that she would not resign, the 51-year-old 's outlook had changed by Friday morning when she elected to step down as premier and an MP.

The decision came after the NSW anti-corruption watchdog, the Independent Commission Against Corruption said it was investigating claims against her. 

Ms Berejiklian said she had

Ms Berejiklian said she had 'no option' but to resign on Friday after an announcement the anti-corruption watchdog would investigate her 

Victor Dominello (pictured left) was among Ms Berejiklian's closest allies that she called for crises talks on Thursday night in an effort to save her leadership

Victor Dominello (pictured left) was among Ms Berejiklian's closest allies that she called for crises talks on Thursday night in an effort to save her leadership

On the Thursday night, Ms Berejiklian had called together her three key supporters within the ministry - Energy Minster Matt Kean, Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello and Health Minister Brad Hazzard - for crisis talks. 

The group was given advice by Mr Walker that she remained on safe legal ground to stay on as premier despite the investigation, an anonymous source involved in the discussions told The Australian

Mr Kean was the first minister called by Ms Berejiklian after she had been informed by ICAC on Thursday that she was a person of interest in inquiries that centred on how much she knew about the dealing of her former partner and resigned minister Daryl Maguire. 

Mr Kean had been on the phone with his partner - letting the private number go to voicemail on three occasions - and then received a text, the newspaper confirmed. 

'Matty, call me - urgently,' the message from the premier read. 

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