That’s where we’ll leave our live coverage for this evening.
Thanks very much for sticking with us during what was a dramatic day.
Gladys Berejiklian has vowed to stay on as premier. Will she survive? What else is likely to come out of Icac?
We’ll be continuing to cover this story in coming days, so make sure you check back for the latest.
For someone who describes herself as doing things by the book, not once did Gladys report this behaviour or disclose this relationship.
— Jodi McKay (@JodiMcKayMP) October 12, 2020
NSW politics can give you whiplash. Calm and stable one day, catastrophically bad the next.
If you’re wondering how we got to this point, I’ve just published this timeline taking you through the sorry tale.
Gladys Berejiklian fights on, says she 'stuffed up' in personal life
So, Gladys Berejiklian is going to fight on, despite pressure for her to resign.
She also revealed Barry O’Farrell, the last premier to resign due to Icac, contacted her and urged her to stay in the job.
Let’s recap on what she said:
- The premier acknowledged she “stuffed up” in her personal life by continuing a relationship with Daryl Maguire, an MP who resigned in disgrace over a corruption scandal in mid-2018.
- The premier framed her error as a “personal” one, and took care to distinguish it from her professional life. She said Maguire broke her trust.
- She said she stayed with Maguire when allegations emerged in mid-2018 because he was in a “dark place”. She continued the relationship for compassionate reasons and urged the public to put themselves in her shoes.
- Berejiklian said the relationship with Maguire was not of a “sufficient status” to disclose to the public.
- Her senior ministers, the treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, and the health minister, Brad Hazzard, strongly backed her to remain as leader, pointing to the premier’s record on Covid-19, among other things.
- Berejiklian said she pushed Maguire out of parliament in 2018. “I was extremely angry with him. I sacked him, convinced him not only to leave parliament, but accosted others to help me convince him to leave parliament.”
- Berejiklian said she did not know of the business dealings of Maguire, saying his interests were not her interests.
- The opposition will move a motion of no confidence tomorrow. Berejiklian says she has the support of her party.
Updated
Berejiklian is told Labor will move a motion of no confidence in her tomorrow. She says she has the support of her colleagues.
Look, I suspected they would do that and that’s their prerogative, but I have got the support of my colleagues.
Updated
Berejiklian says there is nothing wrong with two consenting adults who are parliamentarians having a relationship, as long as they’re not in the same office.
I’ve never questioned that. I’ve never questioned two consenting adults that don’t work in the same office [having a relationship]. It is a matter for them. There is nothing wrong with that. You look at the federal parliament and you look at how many members have ended up married.
Updated
Berejiklian is urging people to understand her position when Maguire left parliament in 2018. She says Maguire’s son-in-law died the day before she sacked him.
I carried a bit of guilt about those circumstances. Again, perhaps some of you would make a different decision, but think about people you’ve known in your life for 15 years who you’d been close to for a long time, and when he was in that very dark place, I didn’t feel that I could just stop being his close friend.
Berejiklian says “trust now is a big issue for me”. She says she is usually a very good judge of character.
I want to be very open and let people know that I’m more than human, I made a big mistake in my personal life, I always kept my personal life separate from my public responsibility, and that my first and foremost priority is to the people of this great state, and it will continue to be.
Updated
The relationship was not of “sufficient status” to tell the public, she says.
The relationship wasn’t of sufficient status for me to talk to anybody about it. I didn’t even talk to my family about it, because it wasn’t of a sufficient status. But I’ve been very open today with the Icac. I actually made sure that they were aware, in terms of what I felt about it. But it didn’t have sufficient status for me to share with anybody, let alone – I did not feel that it had sufficient status for me, and I wasn’t sure about its future, to be honest.
Updated
Berejiklian is asked whether she knew of Maguire’s personal interests. He was set to make hundreds of thousands of dollars from a land sale near the western Sydney airport site.
I was not aware of any specifics and, if there was any interest, it should have been disclosed at the appropriate time. In fact, the integrity body is still investigating whether any interest actually materialised. And that’s for them to decide.
She is asked about her evidence that Maguire often came up with “pie-in-the-sky” ideas like the Badgerys Creek land deal, so she didn’t pay much attention.
The premier is asked whether that excuse passed “muster”.
It doesn’t, but what does pass the test is the fact that I had no knowledge, no details, and I assumed that all of my colleagues – and all of my colleagues have to disclose their interests at the right time, all of my colleagues – it depends on the interests. Sometimes you have to have ongoing disclosures. Sometimes you have to do it on the pecuniary interest register, depending on the office you hold. You have to make those disclosures. And at that time, as I said – because I trusted him, because I trusted him – I had no reason at the time to imagine that he was doing anything wrong, because I trusted him, and I assumed that, if there was any interests to be declared, that he did that. That if there was any interest to register, that he did that. And that’s yet to be determined.
Updated
Berejiklian is asked why she kept telling Maguire that she “didn’t want to hear” about his outside business dealings. Those comments were recorded on telephone intercepts by Icac.
They were his interests. I didn’t have any interest in them. I didn’t care too much about his interests, because it was his responsibility to disclose them, as is the responsibility of every member of parliament. And when you’ve known – and this is my failing – when you’ve known someone for a long time and you put your trust in them, you assume they’re doing the right thing. And that’s what I assumed. I assumed he was doing the right thing.
Updated
Berejiklian kept Maguire relationship 'on compassionate grounds'
The premier is asked why she didn’t end the relationship with Maguire in 2018, when explosive allegations about his land dealings emerged at Icac. Maguire resigned in disgrace.
He was extremely angry with me, I was extremely angry with him. I sacked him, convinced him not only to leave parliament, but accosted others to help me convince him to leave parliament. But I also have to say, from a compassionate position, this is a person who – again, put yourself in my position. I’d known him for 15 years, he lost his career, his friends, he lost everything, and he was in a very dark place, and I didn’t feel that I could stop being his friend during that time. Rightly or wrongly, on compassionate grounds.
Updated
Berejiklian says she did not tell her parents of the relationship with Maguire, saying it was not of a “sufficient status”.
She says she is “human”, is “not perfect” and made a mistake.
I don’t want to take away the responsibility for my actions and say I’m human, but I am. I’m human, and I stuffed up in my personal life. And for someone who’s extremely private and extremely cautious and very conservative in the way she leads her life, it’s been very difficult to have to have that out on full display. And I also want to make this point – and I feel very strongly about this. I know that many women and girls are very proud of the role that I play and the job that I do, and I want to say to everybody – there’s nothing wrong with being a strong, independent, financially independent woman, and I don’t want assumptions made that women can’t be independent, can’t be financially independent, can’t make decisions for themselves or unduly influenced by others. That is not what strong women do. That is not what strong women are.
She says she has not considered resigning because she has not done anything wrong.
Updated
'Private' Berejiklian describes scandal as 'personal nightmare'
Berejiklian is speaking about the enormous personal challenge the scandal has posed for here. She tells the media she is a private person who always obeys the rules.
This has presented her with a “personal nightmare”.
I hold the integrity of this government to the highest standard. And what is comforting in what I regard as a personal nightmare – ask I will call it a personal nightmare – you cannot appreciate, for someone who’s very private, for someone who is very by-the-book, for someone who put her trust in someone she thought she could trust – I’d known him for 15 years – I can’t tell you what it’s done to me personally. It’s been devastating, and I’ve had to bear this on top of everything else. But I want everybody to know that, notwithstanding the personal pressures I was under, the personal challenges that I’ve had, that at every opportunity, I’ve worked my guts out for the people of this state, because I’ll always put the people first.
Updated
Maguire was not able to secure anything for 'associates': premier
Berejiklian is not saying Maguire’s name. She is referring to him as “this person”.
She says that “this person” was not able to secure a benefit, despite his efforts to influence government.
I’ve made my position clear today in the evidence that I gave, and it’s fair to say that a number of people were approached in government, and a number of public servants were approached, and the good news is that everybody held their ground and did what was right in the interests of the public. Everybody held their ground, and this person was not able to acquire anything – for his friends, or his associates.
She says the only way to deal with the NSW government is through the “front door”.
I want to say strongly to the people of this state – there is one way, one way – to come to the government to get things done, and that’s through the front door, through proper process. And I’m pleased to say the process has held up, because nobody was able to gain a benefit from trying to get around the process, from trying to influence, from trying to cajole. That did not occur. And that is what I want to thank all the public servants, all of the colleagues, everybody who was approached ensured that, at every opportunity, the proper processes of this government were held to account, and that is what is important.
Updated
Berejiklian is 'best premier in this country': Brad Hazzard
The health minister, Brad Hazzard, says the state would not have had the success it has had against Covid-19 without Berejiklian.
I’ve known the premier for more than 20 years and I have to say, she is an outstanding spokesperson. She is a person of great integrity. She is by far the best premier in this country. And each one of us should know that, when she goes to work each day, she is only focused on one thing – and that is making sure that the citizens of New South Wales are well cared for. I have lived and worked more than 20 hours a day in some cases with the premier in the last eight to nine months during this Covid crisis, and she has been an outstanding leader.
Updated
Perrottet is leaning heavily on Berejiklian’s performance through the Covid-19 crisis. He says the state needs her strong leadership.
I know that, most importantly, her focus – continued focus – and her tireless work ethic ensures that our state is in the best place possible. And we know, throughout the entire pandemic, the shining light of this country when it comes to which state is driving our nation through this once-in-100-year economic crisis has been the state of New South Wales. And that is no accident. That is no accident at all. That has been because of the fearless leadership that Gladys Berejiklian has taken our state through this very, very difficult time. This is a crisis that is far from over. This is one that will need the strongest leadership possible to keep our state moving, to keep as many people in work, to keep as many people safe as possible
Updated
Dominic Perrottet stands by Berejiklian
The treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, a potential leadership candidate, is standing by the premier.
Perrottet says she is a person of utmost integrity and honesty.
It’s great to be here with the premier today to offer my support to her. It’s been a very difficult day. But she is somebody of the utmost integrity, honesty and, as somebody who has stood by her side as the deputy leader and treasurer of this state, never have I seen someone work so hard – a person of high integrity, honesty and somebody who puts the people of New South Wales first and foremost.
Updated
Berejiklian says she 'trusted' Maguire and feels 'let down'
The premier says she trusted Maguire and is “let down” by what has transpired.
But she will not step down.
The integrity of the role I have – the office that I hold – is the greatest privilege of my life. And whilst I have made this mistake in my personal life, I intend to serve the people of New South Wales to the best of my ability. That’s what I’ve always done. I’ve sacrificed my life to public office and I’m proud of that. The position I hold is a privileged one. It is an honour to serve the people of the state. And I look forward to maintaining my focus to keep everybody safe, to keep jobs going during a very difficult time for the state. But I want to state at the outset that, had I known then what I know now, clearly I would not have made those personal decisions that I did. I trusted someone that I’d known for a long time, and I feel really, really let down.
Updated
Berejiklian admits she 'stuffed up' but will stay in office
Berejiklian is speaking now.
She says she “stuffed up” in her personal life.
It’s very difficult for someone in my position to have a private and personal life, and I’m very upset at what has transpired. But I want to make this assurance to the people of New South Wales – I have always put the public first. I have always made sure the public interest is first and foremost paramount in every single thing that I do.
She says she intends to keep serving as premier.
Updated
We’re not far off from the premier’s press conference now.
The speed with which Gladys Berejiklian’s fortunes turned is remarkable. Before today, she was widely praised for her strong leadership throughout the Covid-19 crisis. Now she’s facing serious pressure to resign.
If she were to resign, who would replace her?
The names of several cabinet minister are being bandied about. They include the current treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, the attorney general, Mark Speakman, the environment minister, Matt Kean, the planning minister, Rob Stokes, and the transport minister, Andrew Constance, though the latter has just indicated he continues to back the premier.
Updated
The transport minister, Andrew Constance, was speaking to the media a little earlier too. We only caught the end of that press conference.
But he defended Gladys Berejiklian. Constance defended the premier’s performance and said she deserved “enormous regard and respect”.
It’s not for me to comment on personal relationships. I mean, for goodness sake, let’s just call a spade a spade. This is a human being who has worked her socks off for this state, and deserves enormous regard and respect, and will continue to do so, and that’s the important thing for the people of New South Wales.
Updated
Berejiklian must resign: McKay
The NSW opposition leader, Jodi McKay, spoke in public a little earlier. She said the premier must resign.
McKay made fairly strong comments. She called the premier a “fraud” and said she lacked integrity and honesty.
Gladys Berejiklian has no choice but to resign. She must resign, the citizens of New South Wales believe she must resign, and I know that all of you believe she must resign, so she cannot possibly stay as the premier of this state, given the extraordinary evidence that has been given to the Independent Commission Against Corruption today. So I am happy to take a couple of quick questions.
You know, we should not be in a situation where we have a premier who is a fraud. This is about integrity. I have been in that witness box. I have sat in Icac and had to give evidence there and it comes down to the type of person you are and the evidence you give. And her evidence is evasive and I do not believe she was telling the truth today – that is my personal opinion – I do not believe she was telling the truth.
McKay was asked whether she was accusing Berejiklian of improper use of public office or dishonesty.
I’m accusing her of both. I think her political judgment has been poor. Her behaviour has been reckless. She’s shown very poor judgment. But I think this goes to the heart of the type of leader that you want in New South Wales. There is someone who has led our state, and she has known every time she’s stood up here and has defended a minister and their bad behaviour, she has known her own dirty little secrets. She has known the conversations that she has been privy to. She has known the contact who she is still having with a disgraced MP. So she is not able to make the proper calls in regard to the behaviour or the standards within her government.
Updated
Berejiklian to speak to media at 4.30pm
Hi everyone. It’s Christopher Knaus here, back live blogging this dramatic day in NSW politics.
The premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has called a press conference for 4.30pm, with the health minister, Brad Hazzard, and the treasurer, Dominic Perrottet.
The press conference will be held at NSW parliament.
We’ll bring that to you as soon as we can. Until then, we’ll have all the latest development, so stick around.
Updated
We’re going to pause this blog now, but I’ll be back with any major developments as they happen.
What we heard during Gladys Berejiklian's appearance before Icac
OK, so, shall we just take a minute to recap on what just happened?
- In an appearance before the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Monday, the New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian, revealed she had been in a “close personal relationship” with the disgraced former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire since around the time of the 2015 state election.
- Maguire resigned in 2018 after a separate Icac inquiry revealed he had attempted to broker property deals and seek payments on behalf of a Chinese developer, but Berejiklian said today that she had only cut off contact with him last month.
- Through a series of intercepted phone calls between Berejiklian and Maguire, we learned Berejiklian knew that Maguire stood to make hundreds of thousands of dollars on a Badgerys Creek land deal that he lobbied her office to intervene in.
- We also heard Berejiklian had deleted an email from the racing heir Louise Waterhouse, on whose behalf Maguire was working while still an MP, after he handed over her direct email address. She admitted the email was “irregular”.
- When Maguire told Berejiklian that he stood to make a substantial amount of money on the potential land deal, the premier responded “I don’t need to know about that bit”. It was one of two occasions on which we heard the premier tell Maguire she did not need to know certain information about his business dealings.
- But the premier denied that she was trying to limit her exposure, telling the inquiry: “I deny the proposition that I turned a blind eye, which is, I think, what you’re saying.”
- On one occasion, Berejiklian told Maguire: “You will always be my numero uno.” The two discussed plans for making their relationship public if Maguire left office at the 2019 election, but the Wagga Wagga MP was concerned about securing ongoing employment.
Updated
The NSW opposition leader, Jodi McKay, has, perhaps predictably, called on Gladys Berejiklian to resign.
Gladys Berejiklian cannot walk in to the parliament tomorrow as Premier of NSW, given her evidence at ICAC today. She must resign.
— Jodi McKay (@JodiMcKayMP) October 12, 2020
And that’s where her evidence ends!
We’re immediately played another two intercepts.
In the first, from February 2018, Maguire and Berejiklian are discussing his potential retirement from politics.
“I’m just trying to let you think about what you need to do and all of that stuff, that’s all,” she says.
“I’m doing nothing until the end of the year ... seeing how this all goes.”
He then says: “Country Garden has fucking fallen through”, a reference to a Chinese development company. Berejiklian says she doesn’t know what that means.
Robertson asks: “Is it fair to say as at February 2018, as you understood it, Mr Maguire was considering retiring from parliament but wanted to make sure he had something to do after parliament?”
She agrees and says: “I hope I made it clear that was a matter for him and I would deal with it accordingly.”
Robertson: “He was seeking to do some deals and make some profit to put himself in a financial position so he was not going to nothing?”
Berejiklian: “My recollection was he was seeking opportunities beyond politics.”
We then hear another phone call between her and Maguire, this time from 3 May 2018.
Maguire: “Jimmy’s made me an offer.”
Berejiklian: “You stay away please.”
She says she has “no recollection what that means”.
Updated
And we’re back. Robertson apologises for the delay, which is nice.
I haven’t fallen asleep at the wheel – we’re still waiting for the hearing to resume from a private session. The hearing went dark about half an hour ago to listen to another intercepted phone conversation between the premier and Maguire.
In the meantime, a quick primer on how we ended up here today.
Today marks the beginning of the third week of the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s public hearings into the conduct of the former MP for Wagga Wagga Daryl Maguire.
The inquiry is looking at whether the former MP used his public office to improperly gain a benefit for himself or for G8way International, a company he “effectively controlled”.
It has previously heard Maguire sought payments to help broker deals for Chinese property developers, and helped “grease the wheels” of a deal to sell the racing heir Louise Waterhouse’s land near the proposed western Sydney airport in 2017 and 2018.
We all thought Gladys Berejiklian had been called as a witness after the inquiry heard Maguire had given her direct email address to Waterhouse. But, in a stunning revelation this morning, Berejiklian admitted she had been in a close personal relationship with the MP dating back to 2015. She only ceased contact with him last month. We’ve also learned that Berejiklian previously appeared in a private hearing in August.
Updated
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has been asked about what’s unfolded at Icac today. He calls it a “surprise”.
It is a matter before that commission and a matter for the New South Wales government. I have worked well with the NSW premier over many years, but that is a matter for her and an ongoing inquiry, and I don’t intend to make commentary on those matters, as you would expect.
These are very new revelations that obviously came as some news to me ... but the work that the premier has done in NSW managing the Covid-19 crisis has been exemplary.
Updated
We’re now listening to hold music as the commission listens to an intercepted phone call in private. It’s the second time this has happened during today’s hearings. We’re told it’s because the call may unnecessarily reveal private information about the premier.
We’re played another intercepted phone call in which Berejiklian tells Maguire she didn’t need to know about the former MP’s activities with property developers.
In the tape, Maguire tells Berejiklian he “introduced my little friend” and adds: “You know my little friend?”
“Not really. I don’t need to know,” Berejiklian replies.
Maguire refers to his friend “with the polished head”, then says, “you don’t need to know what for”.
Updated
We’re back from lunch.
Robertson is asking the premier whether she had any more conversations with Maguire after receiving two emails from Louise Waterhouse in November 2016.
She says she doesn’t recall any. Then we listen to another intercepted phone call in which Maguire talks about “problems, big problems” with Waterhouse’s land.
Robertson asks if Berejiklian remembers the conversation. She answers:
Not specifically, not to my recollection.”
Updated
We’re now at lunch.
The premier had been expected to finish her evidence by now, but counsel assisting, Scott Robertson, says he still has a long way to go.
The premier wanted to push through without a lunch break, saying: “Can we keep going? I’ve got matters of state.”
But the commissioner, Ruth McColl, has overruled her. We’ll be back at about 1.45pm.
Updated
Waterhouse is 'really pissed off now': Maguire to Berejiklian
Another telephone intercept is played. Maguire speaks to Berejiklian again about the Waterhouse land issue.
Maguire:
Did you get that email from Louise Waterhouse?
Berejiklian:
No
Maguire:
You will, she’ll send you an email. She’s really pissed off now, you know, about the airport. They’re all passing the buck.
Berejiklian is asked whether she ever gave the issue “a tickle from the top”.
Berejiklian says “absolutely not”.
Icac breaks for a short 30-minute lunch.
Updated
The counsel assisting, Scott Robertson, is continuing to ask why she wouldn’t have forwarded Waterhouse’s emails to the appropriate agency?
I’m assuming that because it may not have been an issue which required the premier’s involvement.
The Icac is now working out when it will break for lunch.
The premier is not happy, asking whether proceedings can continue and be finalised because she has important matters to attend to.
Berejiklian is being pressed on what she did with emails from Waterhouse.
If I felt another area of government was dealing with it, I wouldn’t have felt the premier of the day should have dropped everything.
She said the email was “irregular”. It was not the usual way that people communicated with the premier, she said.
So why didn’t she forward it on to the appropriate agency?
Perhaps I thought it shouldn’t go any further.
Updated
Berejiklian is being asked what she did with emails from property developer and racing heiress Louise Waterhouse, requesting help from the government on her land near the western Sydney airport. Maguire was being paid to help Waterhouse.
Berejiklian said she has had her office look for those emails and said no action was taken in relation to them.
My office advised me that they could not find any record that I had forwarded any of these emails on or that my office had in any way responded.
Updated
Maguire told Berejiklian of 'big problem' of developer Louise Waterhouse
Berejiklian is being asked about her process for meeting with people.
I would never conduct a meeting without the presence of my staff and without a formal schedule. However, I did allow pop-ins. Members wanted to introduce me to things or things came up urgently.
Was she aware of attempts by Maguire to have her intervene and help Waterhouse with her land sale?
Not apart from what you’ve already put to me in the private meeting.
A telephone intercept was played between Maguire and Berejiklian.
Maguire tells her that he “had coffee with Louise Waterhouse”.
Berejiklian:
Oh yeah, how she’s going?
Maguire tells her that Waterhouse has a “big problem” with the sale of her land. She wanted road access to her block of land.
Maguire says he involved NSW public servants and staff from Berejiklian’s office in a meeting to help Waterhouse.
Maguire:
They just wont do anything. So I got Roads, I got Jock to come down, and I got one bloke from your place there. And I got them to put their heads together and said, ‘look why can’t you fix this?’ ... Honestly, no one wants to do anything.
Maguire also indicated to Berejiklian that an email would be coming to her office from Waterhouse.
Updated
Berejiklian said she had assumed that Maguire was making full and proper disclosures of his interests and financial dealings, as required.
My assumption was that he was doing everything properly.
Berejiklian said she “would not have hesitated” to report his actions if she had any inkling that Maguire was engaged in wrongdoing.
I had no reason to believe I had to take an interest in what was his interest, his matter, and I also would have assumed that he would have made the proper disclosures.
She is reminded that Maguire told her he was about to make a lot of money out of a deal out of Badgerys Creek (the site of the western Sydney airport), a project that was of high importance to the NSW government.
The Icac commissioner Ruth McColl is grilling the premier about her position. She reminds the premier that she had “a number of conversations with Mr Maguire in which he explained to you that someone called William was doing a deal at Badgerys Creek, if that deal was affected, he wouldn’t have to worry about his financial position, you know that his financial position was that he was in debt to the tune of about $1.5m”.
Berejiklian then learned Maguire was about to make a vast sum of money at Badgerys Creek, which would help him with his debts.
McColl asks:
Were you by this stage starting to be concerned that Mr Maguire was talking to you about a deal in which he would make a profit as a member of parliament out of a large-scale investment with which the NSW government was concerned?
Berejiklian says Maguire was “always talking big” about deals. She says a lot of what he said was “fanciful”.
I wouldn’t have registered a concern at that stage, because he was always talking big about deals and they always seemed to fall through.
Updated
'You don't need to know about that bit': Maguire to Berejiklian
Icac has heard that Maguire told Berejiklian if the “Badgerys Creek stuff” was done, he’d have enough money to pay off his debts. Badgerys Creek is the location of the western Sydney airport.
Maguire also intimated that his financial position would be a factor in his decision to resign.
We’ve just heard a phone tap between Berejiklian and Maguire.
Maguire tells Berejiklian:
William tells me we’ve done our deal, so hopefully that’s about half of all that gone.
Berejiklian says:
I don’t need to know about that bit.
Maguire says:
No you don’t. You do not. Anyway so it’s all good news, we’re moving ahead.
Berejiklian is asked by Icac counsel assisting, Scott Robertson, why she had said that she didn’t “need to know about that bit”.
She is asked whether she was trying to limit her exposure to details of his dealings. Berejiklian said if she had felt there was “wrongdoing on the part of Mr Maguire” she would have reported it.
If I did regard anything as a concern, I would have reported it or dealt with, and I want to make that very clear.
Updated
What we know so far
It’s been a staggering morning at Icac, where the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, is giving evidence to an inquiry relating to Daryl Maguire, a disgraced NSW MP who left parliament in 2018 following a corruption scandal.
The Icac has previously heard that Maguire stood to gain at least $690,000 for helping to “grease the wheels” in a land sale involving racing heiress Louise Waterhouse and a Chinese development company, Country Gardens, in 2017.
The parcel of land was located near the proposed western Sydney airport development. Maguire was still a sitting MP at the time.
Berejiklian was forced to appear after it emerged Maguire had given out her direct email address to Waterhouse.
This morning, we’ve heard staggering evidence from Berejiklian:
- Berejiklian has told Icac she was in “a close personal relationship” with the former Wagga Wagga MP during the scandal that led to his resignation. The relationship was kept private from parliamentary colleagues, she has told Icac, because she is “a very private person” and “didn’t feel the relationship had sufficient substance to be made public”.
- Berejiklian referred to Maguire as her “numero uno”, a remark she said was in reference to his importance in her personal life.
- That Maguire was in considerable debt – he said it amounted to $1.5m – and told Berejiklian of that financial position. Berejiklian said she “didn’t care” about his financial position.
- Berejiklian said she wasn’t aware of any specific details of Maguire’s outside business dealings.
Updated
Hi,
We’re about three hours into an explosive hearing at the Indepdent Commission Against Corruption with the New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian.
This morning we’ve heard the bombshell revelation that Berejiklian was in “a close personal relationship” with the former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire from about 2015 until after he resigned from parliament in 2018.
The NSW Icac is investigating allegations Maguire misused his position as an MP and parliamentary secretary to improperly gain a benefit for himself or for G8way International, a company he “effectively controlled”.
We’ll keep you across the evidence emerging from Icac throughout the afternoon.
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