Did Oâ€™Farrell deserve to go?

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell fronts ICAC today after resigning his position. Source: News Corp Australia

THE honourable actions of an honourable man? Or a justified fall from grace?

It seems as if Australians are divided over the motivations behind NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell's shock resignation today.

Mr O'Farrell announced he was resigning after he was caught lying to the Independent Commission against Corruption about a $3000 bottle of wine.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said his Liberal colleague had "innocently and inadvertently" misled the commission and that Mr O'Farrell's decision to resign was an "act of integrity and honour".

Although many people seemed to agree with Mr Abbott's assessment, others questioned whether the Premier's motivations were pure.

One news.com.au reader posted: "He can't remember if he received a $3000 bottle of wine? Can't remember the telephone call the same night? Pretty obvious he was going to attempt to lie his way out of it until the evidence became overwhelming. Then he receives accolades for being honourable? I mean, how stupid do you think people are?"

The sentiment was echoed by another reader: "Integrity? ... caught out more like it!"

Mr O'Farrell denied yesterday he received a 1959 bottle of Grange but a handwritten thank you noted presented to ICAC today suggested otherwise.

The Premier told ICAC that dealings with Australian Water Holdings were done appropriately, and a contract signed with Sydney Water was completed at arm's length from the government.

But the gift from Australian Water Holdings boss Nick Di Girolamo was also not recorded on Mr O'Farrell's parliamentary pecuniary interest register.

Despite the slip-up many supported Mr O'Farrell: "He resigns over a forgotten bottle of wine? Barry is the nicest, most genuine premier we've ever had. The ALP in comparison was corrupt in ways that might never be revealed," one reader posted.

Another reader said: "The really stupid aspect of this is that Barry is resigning not so much because he made a mistake, but because he is an honest person. How many of the other pollies would resign over any mistake they make at all."

Sean Kelly, a former adviser to Labor prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, said he thought Mr O'Farrell had done the decent thing in resigning "over something a lot of people would consider very minor in the scheme of things".

But he said Mr O'Farrell had been very vocal about leading a spotless frontbench.

"When he saw that his own actions jeopardised that, he took the appropriate step of resigning," Mr Kelly said.

Barry O'Farrell leaves ICAC after appearing for a second time as a witness. Source: News Corp Australia

"I have to give the Premier credit for taking the step he has, he decided that he wasn't prepared to lead a party in a damaging fight over what may or may not have happened."

Regardless of whether Mr O'Farrell made an honest mistake, the repercussions of the error are significant for the Liberal Party.

"The state has not just lost a premier but (the Liberal Party) also lost the ability to point the finger at Labor with clean hands," Mr Kelly said.

Mr Kelly said Mr Abbott and the Liberal Party had been hitting Labor with the corruption stick for years because of ICAC findings against its former ministers.

"Now the dark cloud has shifted away from just NSW Labor and NSW politics."

What do you think? Honourable actions of an honourable man, or a justified fall from grace? Join the debate below.