Ministerial Accountability in Focus
ACT Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry has resigned from her cabinet position following a damning report from the Integrity Commission, which identified serious corrupt conduct by two senior figures within her portfolio. While the Commission made no adverse findings against Ms. Berry personally, she stated she is taking “full responsibility” for the actions of her former Chief of Staff, Joshua Ceramidas, and the former Director-General of the Education Directorate, Katy Haire.
The Integrity Commission’s investigation centered on a multi-million-dollar contract to modernize Campbell Primary School. The report concluded that Mr. Ceramidas and Ms. Haire acted to provide a “back door” for the strategic interests of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU), effectively bypassing standard procurement processes. The report noted that the construction firm Manteena was repeatedly identified as the superior and more cost-effective option during evaluations, yet the contract was ultimately awarded to Lendlease.
Pressure and Political Fallout
The resignation followed intense public and political pressure. By the afternoon of July 23, 2026, opposition from the Canberra Liberals, the ACT Greens, and independent MLAs Fiona Carrick and Thomas Emerson had reached a boiling point. Critics argued that the “serious corrupt conduct” findings represented a fundamental breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct. Opposition Leader Mark Parton emphasized that ministers are accountable not only for their own behavior but for the decisions of their staff, calling the potential lack of oversight by Ms. Berry “remarkable.”
The ACT Greens, despite a Supply and Confidence Agreement that generally prevents them from supporting no-confidence motions, signaled that the severity of the corruption findings constituted a clear exception. Party leader Jo Clay stated that the findings revealed a “calculated attempt to cover up the truth,” making Ms. Berry’s position in the cabinet untenable.
The Path Forward
Chief Minister Andrew Barr accepted the resignation, describing the findings as “deeply concerning” and apologizing to citizens who were let down by the procurement failures. Mr. Barr reaffirmed that ministers must have no role in the direct procurement process once a project is approved, stressing that such matters must remain strictly within the public service. The Labor caucus is set to meet early next week to determine the redistribution of Ms. Berry’s portfolios, which include education, housing, and sport and recreation.
Ms. Berry, who has served as Deputy Chief Minister since 2016, expressed that she leaves with her “integrity and moral compass intact.” She plans to continue serving as a backbench member for the electorate of Ginninderra. Meanwhile, her former Chief of Staff, Joshua Ceramidas, has rejected the Commission’s findings and suggested that the investigation process itself requires external scrutiny.