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ICAC public inquiry into Gladys Berejiklian’s conduct as NSW premier

Anton NilssonNCA NewsWire
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Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: Supplied

A year after Gladys Berejiklian revealed she had been in a secret relationship with a disgraced MP, the NSW corruption watchdog is beginning public hearings into whether she too breached the public’s trust.

Ms Berejiklian is not scheduled to testify this week. But it was revealed on Monday she sat through a private and compulsory interview with the counsel assisting the Independent Commission Against Corruption on September 18, less than two weeks before she resigned as premier.

The commission was shown a video clip from the interview, where counsel assisting the commission Scott Robertson asked Ms Berejiklian if she suspected Mr Maguire had been engaged in corrupt conduct when she sacked him from his role as parliamentary secretary in July 2018.

“I didn’t know, I couldn’t make any assumption at that stage, he was professing his innocence and saying it was a misunderstanding,” Ms Berejiklian said.

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“I was in shock. I didn’t know what to think ... I can’t remember what I thought at that time.”

The sacking happened shortly after Mr Maguire was caught giving evidence to a separate ICAC inquiry that was contradicted by a bugged phone call.

Gladys Berejiklian was made to sit through an interview with the ICAC on September 18, less than two weeks before she resigned.
Camera IconGladys Berejiklian was made to sit through an interview with the ICAC on September 18, less than two weeks before she resigned. Credit: Supplied

At the time, Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire were in a relationship that was kept secret from their colleagues and the public.

In the September 18 interview, Mr Robertson clarified to Ms Berejiklian he wasn’t asking whether she “knew” Mr Maguire had engaged in corrupt conduct, but whether she suspected so.

Pressed again, Ms Berejiklian answered “no”.

Mr Robertson said the exchange was relevant to one of the allegations the ICAC was investigating.

That is, whether Ms Berejiklian failed in her obligation to report suspicion of corrupt conduct.

Another allegation being investigated is whether Ms Berejiklian engaged in conduct that could “encourage” Mr Maguire‘s allegedly corrupt dealings.

Mr Robertson referred to an intercepted phone call between the pair that was played before the commission last year, where Ms Berejiklian, upon being told about a business deal Mr Maguire tried to make, said “I don’t need to know about that bit”.

“Ms Berejiklian rejected any suggestion she was seeking to blind herself from information that might require her to take action in relation to Mr Maguire‘s conduct,” Mr Robertson said.

The third allegation being investigated is whether the relationship had created a conflict of interest that resulted in her breaching the public’s trust by awarding grants to a clay target association and a music conservatorium in Wagga Wagga.

The ICAC will question senior bureaucrats and top Liberals in the days ahead. It was also suggested at Monday’s hearing former deputy premier John Barilaro may be called to testify.

First to appear on Monday was Office of Sport director Michael Toohey, who was asked about an October 2016 request to prepare an urgent submission to the NSW cabinet’s expenditure review committee for funding for the Australian Clay Target Association in Wagga Wagga.

Mr Toohey told the commission the request was to prepare the submission in just one day, and that such a tight deadline was “extremely unusual”.

PREMIER PRESSER
Camera IconGladys Berejiklian stepped down as Premier on October 1. NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia

Ms Berejiklian’s successor as premier, Dominic Perrottet, told media on Monday he had spoken with Ms Berejiklian, who was “doing well” ahead of the hearing.

“I had a chat with the former premier over the course of the weekend to check in how she’s doing, and she’s doing well,” he said.

“There are always public hearings when it comes to the (ICAC). They’ve got a job to do, they should do their job.

“I’m not going to provide a running commentary in relation to these inquiries.”

Among the Liberals who will take the witness stand this week is former premier Mike Baird and deputy party leader Stuart Ayres.

The ICAC has not yet said when Ms Berejiklian may testify.

The ICAC announced on October 1 that Ms Berejiklian was being investigated, which caused her to decide to resign the same day.

Daryl Maguire to Front ICAC
Camera IconDaryl Maguire was in a secret five-year relationship with Ms Berejiklian. Brett Costello Credit: The Daily Telegraph

Ms Berejiklian said in her resignation speech she had “always acted with the highest level of integrity”.

“In all decisions I’ve ever made as a minister or as premier of NSW, my first consideration has always been the wellbeing and welfare of the people of the state,” she said.

“I state categorically, I’ve always acted with the highest level of integrity. History will demonstrate that I’ve always executed my duties, again with the highest level of integrity, for the benefit of the people of NSW.”

The probe is a continuation of an ongoing investigation into Mr Maguire, who resigned as an MP in 2018 and who agreed last year he had used his parliamentary office as headquarters for a profit-making private business.

Mr Maguire’s admission that he knew he wasn’t permitted to use his power as an MP and parliamentary secretary to enrich himself came in October 2020.

Earlier that month, Ms Berejiklian had been called to testify, leading her to make the stunning revelation she and Mr Maguire had been in a five-year relationship.

Originally published as ICAC public inquiry into Gladys Berejiklian’s conduct as NSW premier

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