It was sad to learn about the resignation of New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian from Parliament today. Ms Berejiklian is facing an ICAC investigation into whether she breached public trust.

In my view, Gladys has been a witness to how much migrants can achieve in Australia.

Born in 1970 as the eldest of daughters to Armenian immigrant parents, Krikor and Arsha. Her grandparents were orphaned by Turkish soldiers in the Armenian genocide in 1915. Ms Berejiklian spoke only Armenian until she was five years old, when she began learning English. She has remained involved in the Armenian-Australian community, serving a term on the Armenian National Committee of Australia.
In 2004, as Australian Human Rights Commissioner, I was privileged to be invited to address the Armenian Community at the anniversary of the Armenian genocide function in North Sydney (my speech is here 2004-04-29 NSW – Genocide Armenia to Rwanda) .

Ms Berejiklian has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly since 2003, representing the seat of Willoughby. She assumed office of the Premier on 23 January 2017 and won the 2019 state election. She has led our state through some of its most challenging times, from bushfires to drought, from floods to storms, and a once-in-a-century pandemic – always putting the needs of the people of NSW first.

Thank you Gladys for your decades of dedication and service to NSW. I wish you all the best for the future.

Sev Ozdowski with Gladys Berejiklian, NSW Premier