Karyn Paluzzano resigns from parliament

NSW Labor faces a likely crushing defeat in a Penrith by-election triggered by the
snap resignation of disgraced MP Karyn Paluzzano.
Premier Kristina Keneally on Friday accused Ms Paluzzano of lying to her and to the
parliament, but stopped short of blaming her outright for an anticipated drubbing at
the poll in the western Sydney electorate.
Reporters camped outside Ms Paluzzano's Penrith residence on Friday but it's
understood she was not at home when she formally resigned from parliament.
Ms Keneally, meanwhile, kept her cool as she laboured through a 25-minute morning
media conference that capped off a week of high drama and political finger-pointing
over the Paluzzano affair.
Ms Paluzzano fronted an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry on
Wednesday and Thursday and admitted to misusing public funds as well as lying to
ICAC about the allegations when formally questioned last month.
She had earlier in the week resigned as parliamentary secretary and was suspended
from the Labor Party late on Thursday.
Ms Keneally, criticised for backing Ms Paluzzano until the ICAC inquiry concluded on
Thursday, took aim at the now-former MP on Friday.
"Let me say this: Mrs Paluzzano lied to the parliament, she lied to the ICAC and she
lied to me," Ms Keneally told reporters in Sydney.
The premier was further incensed at the prospect Labor would most likely lose the
seat of Penrith - with voters expected to vent their frustrations at the 15-year-old
Labor government ahead of the state election in March 2011.
"We would not be in a by-election circumstance if it were not for the actions of Mrs
Paluzzano," Ms Keneally said.
"I expect that the people of Penrith are going to be very angry and I expect that
they're going to make that known."
NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell was critical of the events leading up to Ms
Paluzzano's resignation.
"This is a sorry end to a saga that went on too long. It is a sorry end for a saga
that Kristina Keneally simply watched, frozen by inaction," he told reporters in
Sydney.
Labor won the seat in 2007 with a nine per cent margin but Penrith mayor Kevin
Crameri believes Labor could suffer a swing of up to 20 per cent in the by-election.
"I would say that could be pretty right," Mr Crameri told AAP on Friday.
Swings of up to 22 per cent were seen in the Labor seats of Ryde, Lakemba and
Cabramatta during by-elections in October 2008. Ryde was lost to the Liberals.
Penrith Liberal candidate Stuart Ayres, 29, expects to take on Labor over such
issues as health, public transport and employment opportunities.
"Labor has grown complacent. I think they've neglected the people of western Sydney
and the people of Penrith," he said.
Ms Keneally said Labor would choose its candidate for the by-election in due course.
She also commented on the prospect of Ms Paluzzano receiving an estimated $1.9
million in parliamentary pension entitlements.
"I am going to monitor this situation very closely," Ms Keneally said.
Under the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Amendment, a former MP could be
denied their publicly-funded pension if they are convicted of an "infamous offence"
or an offence that carries a jail term of more than five years.
ICAC Commissioner David Ipp QC will hand down his official findings later in the year.
Lower house speaker Richard Torbray will lay down a timetable for the by-election
after state parliament resumes on Tuesday.
The NSW Greens announced on Friday the party would run a candidate.



Delete & Prev | Delete & Next
Mov