Twitter's reaction to NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell's downfall has been every bit as swift and merciless as you'd expect.
NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell pretty much had to honorably chose to resign this morning after the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was shown a handwritten thank-you note O'Farrell sent Australian Water Holdings boss Nick Di Girolamo for a 1959 bottle of Grange worth $3000.
(Yesterday, O'Farrell told ICAC he did not receive the gift, which he failed to declare in his pecuniary interest register.)
Even now, O'Farrell continues to cling to his story that he doesn't remember the bottle of wine, but the damage has been done, and O'Farrell has resigned on the day he was due to meet the Windsors and announce a second Sydney airport alongside Tony Abbott.
Here's how Twitter reacted:
Barry O'Farrell draws a blanc #nswpol
— Joel (@jeauxlb) April 16, 2014#nswpol #BREAKING MPs to face tough new test before entering Parliament in wake of #grangegate #auspol #memoryfail pic.twitter.com/abjb75AuGY
— His Royal Henare (@henaredegan) April 16, 2014@MattYoung #grangegate pic.twitter.com/4XT1yVjrmQ
— The Skewer (@TheSkewerNews) April 16, 2014Gone Without The Windsors - the Barry O'Farrell story.
— James Jeffrey (@James_Jeffrey) April 16, 2014Surely it would hard to resist putting on ZZ Top's 'La Grange' as Barry O'Farrell leaves the building.
— Tony Martin (@mrtonymartin) April 16, 2014The real letter from Barry O'Farrell. pic.twitter.com/Uq1rOQRtgv
— Josh Taylor (@joshgnosis) April 16, 2014NSW Liberals 'Grange You Can Believe In'
— Dan Ilic (@danilic) April 16, 2014As always Ron Burgundy sums up the Barry O'Farrell resignation the best... #nswpol pic.twitter.com/pNbuntifCc
— Nic Christensen (@nicchristensen) April 16, 2014O'Farrell is a philistine, probably used the 1959 Grange in bolognaise sauce.
— David Stratton (@DavidStratton9) April 16, 2014Whichever comic genius was hiding the thank-you note until now needs an award for their impeccable timing. I hope they jumped out of a cake.
— Marieke Hardy (@mariekehardy) April 16, 2014Headline writers, take note RT @cowboypirate Perks of being out of a job for Barry O'Farrell #grangegate pic.twitter.com/FASg7JX1fd
— matt levinson (@matt_levinson) April 16, 2014Wow I hope they don't find Barry's notes to me. #auspol #nswpol pic.twitter.com/FcCHAWH8Dt
— Fake Chris Pyne (@FakeChrisPyne) April 16, 2014RT @wheresshelly: anyone else lose power this morning? #perth Nah, just Barry O'Farrell #BOF #grangegate
— Rashas Moustaches (@rashasman) April 16, 2014Soo.... Are we updating the new NSW liquor licensing laws to ban Grange aswell now, right?
— Marc Fennell (@marcfennell) April 16, 2014Barry O'Farrell: The Lone Granger #nswpol #auspol #grangegate #barryofarrell #icac pic.twitter.com/k2OkToTkZ3
— DA Carter / Spex (@daspex) April 16, 2014"I did not inhale that bottle of Grange."
— Charles Firth (@charlesfirth) April 15, 2014Barry O'Farrell has resigned over the receipt of a 1959 bottle of Grange. Unclear if bottle was bought before 10pm. #NSWPol #GrangeGate
— Klara Kalocsay (@klaratiara) April 16, 2014I can now claim to have sent every MP a bottle of grange and demand a favour. If they didn’t receive it it’s hardly my fault. #grangegate
— Marcus Westbury (@unsungsongs) April 15, 2014If nothing else I've learned a lot about the price of different Grange vintages today. This knowledge will come in handy #grangegate
— Megan Bailey (@MeganDVLeader) April 16, 2014Actually, $3000 would be cheap for a '59 Grange. Right now Dan Murphy is asking $4,850.00.
— Mike Carlton (@MikeCarlton01) April 15, 2014We've organised @barryofarrell a farewell gift... pic.twitter.com/Dlf0OhqEa4
— CFMEU (@CFMEU_CG) April 16, 2014Yes waiter, I'll have a bottle of your finest Premier's Downfall please.
— Jo Thornely (@jothornely) April 16, 2014Maybe Joffrey drank the Grange
— David Paris (@DavidParis) April 16, 2014BREAKING - BARRY O'FARRELL UNABLE TO RECALL RESIGNING AS PREMIER
— John Johnsonson (@JohnJohnsonson) April 16, 2014Just brutal. We haven't seen this many people making fun of a politician since #Watergategate.
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