Gladys Berejiklian steps back into the spotlight as she hits the campaign trail NSW Willoughby

Gladys Berejiklian has resurfaced for the first time since her anti-corruption hearing, hitting the campaign trail for her successor.

The former NSW premier resigned last year after the Independent Commission Against Corruption investigated her over allegations she breached public trust and encouraged corrupt behaviour from her former lover Daryl Maguire.

Ms Berejiklian made a surprise appearance in a promotional video for Liberal candidate Tim James, who is running for her vacant seat of Willoughby in the upcoming election. 

‘I love this community and I know Tim James, the new candidate for Willoughby loves it just as much,’ she said. 

Gladys Berejiklian (pictured left) has resurfaced for the first time since her anti-corruption hearing, hitting the campaign trail for her successor Tim James (right)

Ms Berejiklian, who held the seat across nearly two decades from 2003 to 2021, before resigning from Legislative Assembly on December 30.

There have been rumours she could resurface on the federal level, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison repeatedly throwing his support behind the former premier who he said had ‘suffered terribly’.

‘If she wished to put herself forward, of course I would welcome her,’ Mr Morrison said in December.

‘That’s a decision for Gladys, ultimately, and she may choose not to go ahead here, I suspect. That’s a matter for her, and I respect her choice.’ 

Ms Berejiklian instead said she will seek a career in the private sector and looks forward to ‘a much less public life’.

The former NSW premier resigned last year after the Independent Commission Against Corruption investigated her over allegations she breached public trust

Instead she has started helping her former party secure her old seat, with the country moving towards key state and federal elections in May.

She appeared in the video alongside Mr James, who sits in the right faction of the Liberal Party while she came from the left.

Ms Berejiklian said he will ‘do a great job in representing all of us in moving forward together’ after winning the party’s preselection earlier this month.

The two hit the campaign trail in Northbridge on Wednesday, a key area for the seat.

Mr James did an interview with the Daily Telegraph last week admitting he has ‘big shoes to fill’.  

Ms Berejiklian said Mr James will ‘do a great job in representing all of us in moving forward together’ after winning the party’s preselection earlier this month

‘Gladys was an outstanding local member and in a lot of ways my focus is to continue her great work by protecting and enhancing the many things that make Willoughby such a great place,’ Mr James said.

‘I’m aware I have big shoes to fill. I’ve known Gladys for a long time, she was about five years ahead of me in the Young Liberals and for almost two decades she did a remarkable job.’

He said he was ‘surprised’ by her resignation but said he was ready to ‘carve out’ his own direction for the seat if elected.  

Gladys Berejiklian (pictured right) is under investigation by ICAC for her conduct while NSW premier in relation to her former boyfriend, ex-MP Daryl Maguire (pictured left)

In October, Ms Berejiklian made the unexpected announcement as ICAC carried out an investigation into her relationship with former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire. 

The ICAC revealed it was investigating whether she had breached the public’s trust or had a conflict of interest during the relationship. 

She spent two days in the witness box during the hearing, which also saw testimony from Mr Maguire and former premier Mike Baird. 

During a phone call revealed during the hearing, Ms Berejiklian was heard boasting to Mr Maguire she got ‘$170 million in five minutes’ when speaking about funds for a new Australian Target Association headquarters being built in his electorate of Wagga Wagga/ 

The former state leader has denied any wrongdoing and the anti-corruption body is yet to hand down its findings on the matter.  

The ICAC will give its submissions to relevant parties by February 15, with responses due by March 28.

The findings will not be made public. 

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