Tributes for Gladys
NSW Labor Shadow Minister for Police Walt Secord, who is also deputy chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel has paid tribute to outgoing Premier Gladys Berejiklian saying that “despite being long-time political opponents” he was “deeply saddened to witness her departure”.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian
“When I watched her resignation, I felt a deep sense of pain and sympathy for her. She had taken and guided NSW through the pandemic and now she is resigning before her appearance at a corruption hearing. I feel for her and her parents.
“There is plenty of time for politics after the pandemic is over. No one can fault her dedication and hard work on behalf of the people of NSW, particularly over the last 15 weeks.
Her dedication to combatting COVID on behalf of the people of NSW will not be forgotten.”
“I am also familiar with her personal story after attending commemorations of the Armenian Genocide and annual Israel Independence Day events hosted by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. She was the granddaughter of Armenian genocide survivors and she had an affinity for the Jewish community and Sydney’s multicultural communities. Her mother’s family were from Jerusalem and her father’s family were from Syria. Regrettably, her successor will not have the same understanding of genocide and the Shoah.”
President of The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies told J-Wire: “The Jewish community has enjoyed a long and warm relationship with Gladys Berejiklian throughout her many years in Parliament – particularly these last 4 years as Premier of NSW.
As the peak body of the Jewish Community in this state, the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies would like to acknowledge her incredible leadership throughout her time as Premier, steering our state through the COVID-19 pandemic, horrendous bushfires, floods and other biblical plagues.
We react with sadness and thank her for her tremendous friendship to the Jewish community of NSW and for maintaining an open door to hear our issues and concerns. There has been no stronger friend for the Jewish community throughout her time as Premier, as a Minister and through her entire period in parliament.”
