Two suspended Liberal MPs have quit NSW parliament after making damaging admissions to a corruption watchdog.
The decision of Newcastle MP Tim Owen and Charlestown MP Andrew Cornwell to resign comes after Premier Mike Baird urged them to consider their future earlier on Tuesday.
Mr Owen on Tuesday morning admitted to lying to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) about his handling of $10,000 in cash he received from a property developer.
Dr Cornwell told the corruption watchdog last week he had received a bribe from another property developer.
Just before the start of Question Time, the speaker of the NSW lower house Shelley Hancock told parliament she had received letters of resignation from the two men and that their seats were now vacant.
Mr Baird says by-elections will be held in Charlestown and Newcastle despite the NSW election being only seven months away.
"Everyone in NSW, everyone in the electorates has the right to feel appalled, angered and betrayed," he told parliament.
Opposition Leader John Robertson urged Mr Baird to introduce full public funding of elections to remove the "corrosive influence of donations once and for all".
Mr Baird said the government had already taken action on the issue, launching reviews into donation rules and the governance of the Liberal Party.
Mr Owen on Monday told the ICAC that he returned $10,000 he received in a car from property developer and now Newcastle mayor Jeff McCloy.
But on Tuesday Mr Owen sensationally told the commission that was a lie and he in fact had put the money into his campaign.
Camden MP Chris Patterson will replace Dr Cornwell as government whip.
Share
