Energy Minister Chris Hartcher resigns after ICAC raid on his offices Former NSW Energy minister Chris Hartcher and his wife Elizabeth. ICAC raids relate to illegal donations Minister Anthony Roberts appointed temporarily Western Sydney MP Stuart Ayres joins cabinet ENERGY minister Chris Hartcher has resigned following an ICAC raid. In a statement, Mr Hartcher said he had told Premier Barry O'Farrell of his resignation. "My resignation follows the issue of a search warrant by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) against me," Mr Hartcher said. I am confident I will be cleared of any wrongdoing. Mr Hartcher, 66, said that he will stay as Terrigal MP while awaiting the outcome of ICAC investigations. This is the first contact I have had with the ICAC and given that their investigations have thus far had an unknown time frame, it is appropriate that I resign. ICAC staff search the offices of Terrigal State MP Chris Hartcher today. In September, the ICAC raided two of Mr Hartcher's Central Coast colleagues, Chris Spence and Darren Webber. The raids were understood to relate to illegal donations which forced the suspension of Mr Hartcher's former staffer, Ray Carter. Mr Carter allegedly sought a $5000 donation from a businessman to fund Central Coast Liberal candidates, including Mr Hartcher. A sign posted to the door of Terrigal State MP Chris Hartcher's office says it will be "temporarily closed." The money ended up in a slush fund set up by another of Mr Hartcher's staffers, Tim Koelma. Mr Koelma and Mr Carter have denied any wrongdoing. Mr O'Farrell said: "I accept and support Mr Hartcher's decision to resign from Cabinet following today's actions by ICAC." "I thank Mr Hartcher for his services to the Government and the State, in particular for his success in bringing electricity prices under control for NSW households and businesses after years of double-digit price rises under Labor," he said. Chris Spence and Darren Webber. Mr Hartcher, a key powerbroker in the right wing of the Liberal party, was elected to parliament in 1988 in the seat of Gosford. Before his election to parliament, he was a solicitor and served on the state executive of the Liberal Party from 1980 to 1987. He currently holds the portfolios of energy, minister for the central coast, and special minister of state. Last year, his faction was involved in a messy court battle with the moderate faction in the Liberal party over federal preselections. Stuart Ayres is the Premier's first Western Sydney MP to be appointed to the NSW Liberal Government cabinet. Right wing members attempted to stop the annual general meeting of the Liberal party's state council, because the council's agenda did not include motions from central coast branches. The 550 member council, which is the main decision-making body in the party, were taken to court because branches on the Central Coast controlled by Mr Hartcher wanted to replace preselection panels with plebiscites of branch members. The right wing of the party sought to abolish the power of the party's state executive, controlled by the Left. Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts has taken over Mr Hartcher's portfolio until the premier announces portfolio arrangements. Premier O'Farrell has announced a minimalist reshuffle, promoting his first Western Sydney MP Stuart Ayres to cabinet in the wake of the resignation. The Premier said Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts would be appointed Acting Minister for Mr Hartcher's portfolio until Monday when portfolio arrangements would be announced.