Disgraced NSW MP Daryl Maguire will resign from state parliament, and a by-election will be held for the seat of Wagga Wagga, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced.
"This morning I spoke to Mr Maguire, he advised me of his intention to resign from parliament before parliament resumes, I accepted that," Ms Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.
Mr Maguire last week quit the Liberal party and his role as parliamentary secretary after a corruption inquiry heard secret recordings of him discussing potential commissions with a local councillor from property deals with a wealthy Chinese developer.But despite mounting pressure, he had until Saturday refused to quit as an MP, instead announcing he wouldn't recontest the next state election in March 2019.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Source: AAP
Ms Berejiklian said that following her conversation with Mr Maguire, she spoke with deputy premier John Barilaro, and they'd agreed there would be a by-election in Mr Maguire's seat of Wagga Wagga.
"There will not be a three-cornered contest. The Liberal party's held that seat for half a century and the Liberal party has opened nominations," she said.