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"Serious corrupt conduct": Gladys report handed down

After an almost three-year saga, a corruption probe has found Gladys Berejiklian and her former boyfriend engaged in "serious corrupt conduct". The former NSW premier and her former lover disgraced MP Daryl Maguire were slammed in the damning report, released by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Thursday, for keeping their relationship secret. ICAC found Ms Berejiklian breached public trust between 2016 to 2017 by failing to disclose her five-year relationship with Mr Maguire, which the watchdog found could have had the “potential to influence the performance of her public duty”. The inquiry was tasked with determining whether Ms Berejiklian breached public trust through her decision-making during her secret relationship with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire, and in handing down the report, it was announced the 600-page document makes “serious corrupt findings” against both Ms Berejiklian and her former lover. One of the main points of the probe found that Ms Berejiklian breached public trust by awarding a $5.5 million grant to the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA), and a $10m grant for the renovation of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music (RCM), while she was in a “close personal relationship” with Daryl Maguire. ICAC found the funding was “influenced” by her relationship with Mr Maguire, and Ms Berejiklian’s “desire ... to maintain or advance that relationship” The corruption watchdog also found Ms Berejiklian failed to notify ICAC of her suspicion that Mr Maguire “had engaged in activities which concerned, or might have concerned, corrupt conduct”. Ms Berejiklian has released a short statement about the findings, saying "Serving the people of NSW was an honour and privilege. At all times I have worked my hardest in the public interest. Nothing in this report demonstrates otherwise." "Thank you to members of the public for their incredible support. This will sustain me always." "The report is currently being examined by my legal team." ICAC did not refer Ms Berejiklian’s actions to the DPP for potential prosecution, however the report said “consideration should be given to obtaining the advice of the DPP about the prosecution of Mr Maguire”. Image credits: Getty Images

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Maguire's ICAC testimony full of personal revelations

Daryl Maguire, former NSW Liberal MP and ex-secret-boyfriend of former Premier Gladys Berejiklian, faced ICAC on Thursday, as part of their inquiry into Berejiklian’s conduct while premier. The inquiry started on Thursday morning with Assistant Commissioner Ruth McColl, SC, rejecting an application made by Berejiklian’s barristers to make part of the hearings private in anticipation of Maguire being questioned about his relationship with the former premier. Berejiklian’s team said that the proposed questions raised “personal privacy concerns of the highest order for my client” and could lead to intense media scrutiny, humiliation, and harm. Ms McColl felt that it was not in the public interest for her to make such an order. Giving evidence remotely due to COVID-19 restrictions, Maguire informed ICAC that he was in a relationship with Berejiklian from 2015 until at least July 2018, when she asked him to quit politics following his evidence at another corruption inquiry. Despite this, Berejiklian confirmed at the ICAC in October of last year that the pair kept in touch until September. Maguire’s testimony was full of revelations about the couple’s relationship. The former state MP admitted to attempting to get confidential information from state MPs about land in Cawdor in the Wollondilly Shire to assist his property developer friend William Leong. He said, “I asked their view on what they thought would happen.” He agreed with former deputy premier John Barilaro’s statement that he was a “pain in the arse” in advocating for projects in his electorate. He also agreed that he was determined when advocating for millions of dollars in funding for two organisations in his electorate, the Australian Clay Target Association and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. He admitted to lobbying the former state treasurer as well as Berejiklian about funding for these organisations. In addition, Maguire admitted he was a “serial pest” when it came to lobbying sports minister Stuart Ayres and Berejiklian about funding for a multimillion-dollar proposal regarding the Australian Clay Target Association. Ayres eventually signed off on $40,000 for the club in 2016. He is not accused of wrongdoing. The association later received $5.5 million from the state government to upgrade its facilities. Regarding his relationship with Berejiklian, Maguire said that he had a key to her home and that the couple contemplated marriage. In addition, he said they loved each other and had discussed having children. He told the ICAC that Berejiklian had not yet asked for her house key back. Berejiklian is expected to face the inquiry on Friday. She denies wrongdoing and has said that history will show she was acting in the best interests of the people of NSW. Image: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images, Joel Carrett - Pool/Getty Images

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“It didn’t stack up”: ICAC investigation into Gladys Berejiklian begins

On the opening day of a corruption inquiry into Gladys Berjiklian, private evidence was revealed of the then-premier expressing her “shock” when she was forced to sack former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire. The video evidence was recorded over a month ago, prior to the former Premier announcing her shock departure from the top job. In the clip from 2020, Ms Berejiklian is questioned via video link by Scott Robertson, the Council Assisting of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Mr Robertston directed his questions towards what she knew about Mr Maguire’s allegedly corrupt behaviour when she asked him to resign as Parliamentary Secretary in 2018. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844928/icac1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ad5c3f39aedf4c75924e2c789902fcfe" /> Image: ICAC “Did you suspect Mr Maguire was engaged in corrupt conduct?” Mr Robertson <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/icac-gladys-berejiklian-corruption-inquiry-first-day-hears-private-evidence/f054f374-bf74-4af2-9b92-2a99a81c1a23" target="_blank">asked</a>. “I couldn’t make any assumption at that stage, he was professing his innocence,” Ms Berejiklian replied. After being repeatedly pressed about her suspicions, Ms Berejiklian eventually answered “no”. Once the recording finished, Mr Robertson told the Commission that there were questions about whether the evidence should be accepted in the current investigation. If not, Mr Robertston continued, the Commission should “consider why Ms Berejiklian did not make a report to this Commission concerning Mr Maguire”. The current investigation The ICAC is investigating allegations that Ms Berejiklian breached her own ministerial standards by not disclosing her relationship with Mr Maguire when she was Treasurer under Mike Baird or to her own cabinet when she was Premier. “There will be evidence to the effect that a number of public officials would have acted differently if they knew about Ms Berejiklian’s relationship with Mr Maguire,” Mr Robertson <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/investigations/live-streaming-of-public-inquiries/operation-keppel-live-stream" target="_blank">said</a> in his opening address. Mr Robertson provided examples of Ms Berejiklian declaring past conflicts of interest, such as the appointment of people she knew to government boards, and the employment of her cousins by the public service. But, Ms Berejiklian “never gave a disclosure to the NSW ministerial code of conduct about Mr Maguire”. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844929/icac2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/334e03d0134049d6856159180fd42c92" /> Image: ICAC Ms Berejiklian is also being investigated for three other allegations surrounding the awarding of two grants to the Riverina Conservatorium of Music and the Australian Clay Target Association in Wagga Wagga. First, it is alleged that she breached the public trust by failing to report any suspicions of corrupt conduct in relation to Mr Maguire. Allegations that Ms Berejiklian behaved in a way “that was liable to allow or encourage” Mr Maguire’s allegedly corrupt conduct are also being investigated in the inquiry. She has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. “It didn’t stack up” Michael Toohey from the Office of Sport appeared as the first witness, and rubbished the $5.5 million grant awarded to the Australian Clay Target Association. “There wasn’t any real design work … it didn’t stack up,” Mr Toohey told the ICAC. Mr Maguire publicly touted the project and claimed that the gun range could be used as the venue of the 2018 Sydney Invictus Games if it received funding. “Invictus Games doesn’t have shooting events,” Mr Toohey said. Day two sees second witness speak On <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/berejiklian-inquiry-live-updates-paul-doorn-to-appear-as-icac-investigation-into-conduct-of-former-nsw-premier-continues-20211018-p590zt.html">day two</a> of the inquiry, the ICAC heard that the Office of Sport was asked to draft an urgent funding submission for the grant, despite the office regarding it as a low priority project. Former Office of Sport executive director Paul Doorn told the ICAC on Tuesday that he could not remember why the submission was so urgent. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844930/icac3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f37a0f9a86a24cb49468ef43b22580ae" /> Paul Doorn appears as a witness during day two of the ICAC’s investigation. Image: ICAC He already told the ICAC that the project didn’t appear to benefit the state of NSW, and upgrading the Wagga Wagga club could pose a risk of cannibalising any events that would go to the government-owned shooting facility in Olympic Park. “Why would you invest in a facility where you’ve already got a facility that could host [major events?” Mr Doorn said. The commission also heard that Mr Maguire, who was the member for Wagga Wagga, lobbied for government funding for the facility twice, but that the proposal lacked details. Mr Doorn also agreed that he would have told the government that the information provided was insufficient for funding to be allocated to the gun club. The investigation is ongoing, with Mr Baird, Stuart Ayres, John Barilaro, and Ms Berejiklian to give evidence over the next two weeks. Image: 9NEWS

Legal

Waleed Aly defends Gladys

The Project co-host Waleed Aly has come out in defence of former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, saying the state’s corruption watchdog is “getting rid of” competent leaders. Aly said the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) may “erode confidence” of the public in politicians. Ms Berejiklian stepped down as Premier last week following the announcement from ICAC that she was being investigated in relation to former MP Daryl Maguire, who was found to have abused his position as a politician. Previously, ICAC launched an inquiry into former Liberal premier Barry O’Farrell over his decision to accept a $3000 bottle of wine without declaring it, prompting his resignation. “One of the interesting elements of this is ICAC is there … to give the public confidence in politicians and in the political system,” Aly <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/politics/waleed-aly-defends-gladys-berejiklian-on-the-project-amid-icac-investigation/news-story/2a6de7dc6696085a694d5e029f673531" target="_blank">said</a>. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> There are growing calls for a NSW-style corruption watchdog to be implemented at a federal level. But how it would work is becoming a contentious issue. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheProjectTV?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheProjectTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/NgeH4ndyKz">pic.twitter.com/NgeH4ndyKz</a> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1445655716144898056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2021</a></blockquote> “But is there a danger though that it can do the opposite and ICAC may have done that by getting rid of premiers that are widely respected, seen as competent, and people who have been of integrity, seeing a premier in NSW disappear over a bottle of wine. It erodes confidence in the political system unnecessarily.” Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus rejected the idea, arguing that ICAC wasn’t the one that “got rid of” Ms Berejiklian. “I think that all politicians and all commentators need to be very careful not to attack these anti-corruption commissions simply because they don’t like what they’ve discovered or because they don’t like outcomes,” he said. “Bear in mind the former premier of NSW, Gladys Berejiklian, resigned of her own volition. No-one forced her to resign. “Nothing about the ICAC scheme required her to resign. So it’s wrong those people that are blaming ICAC because Ms Berejiklian’s no longer the Premier of NSW.” “It was her choice to resign. A quite different course of action was available to her. She could have simply stood aside. Or she could have decided not to stand aside at all and undergo the investigation that’s now underway. “We don’t yet know the outcome of the inquiry.” A public inquiry into the issue is due to commence on October 18, and is expected to last for about 10 days. Ms Bereijiklian has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Mr Maguire’s actions. Image: The Project

"Offensive and wrong in every way": Gladys fires up over ICAC questions

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was hammered in the NSW parliament with questioning over her involvement with an MP under a corruption inquiry. Labor leader Jodi McKay tried to bait the Premier into admitting she should be considered a "sounding board for corruption". “The question is offensive and wrong in every way,” the Premier replied forcefully. McKay asked the Premier why she didn't report her knowledge of her ex-partner Daryl Maguire trying to clear a debt through a land deal at Badgerys Creek. “I refer again to this question, which is wrong, and highly offensive, and I say to the leader of the opposition, either withdraw it, or say it outside,” the Premier said, pointing to the hallway. McKay tried again with statements the Premier had made to ICAC. “You said you didn’t know Iwan Sunito – but you did. You said you didn’t know what UWE (United World Enterprises) was – but you did. You said you didn’t know your office was used to lobby property developers – but you did. You said you didn’t know Daryl Maguire stood to profit from a property deal he was lobbying for – but you did,” Ms McKay said. “How can the people of NSW trust you?” The Premier fired back: “I don’t know why she’s asked me the question, because she’s asked me the question and answered herself. She already has the answer, so I don’t know why she asked me. “The opposition can clutch at any straws they like. The truth is I have done nothing wrong, and the people of NSW know it.” Helen Dalton, a member from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party said that the Premier lied to ICAC when she said that she didn't know what United World Enterprises was. In Monday's testimony, the Premier was asked about UWE, which is a company her former partner Daryl Macguire had financial ties to. “I remember asking you what the UWE was, because I didn’t know what it was, and I didn’t remember what it was, yep,” the Premier told the ICAC. However, the question drew a harsh response from the Premier. “Can I say that I provided assistance as a witness on Monday in great detail. I was forthright, direct, much to my personal detriment but I had to do it because it is in the public interest,” Ms Berejiklian shouted. “And I say to the people of NSW that every day that I have been in this place, since 2003 I‘ve worked hard. I’ve worked my guts out to the people; I will continue to do that. “I never have and never will do anything wrong but I will work my guts out for the people of this great state!” The Question Time arguments came after Berejiklian survived two separate votes of no confidence on Wednesday, both in the upper and lower houses of NSW Parliament. </div> </div> </div>

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"Serious corrupt conduct": Gladys report handed down

Maguire's ICAC testimony full of personal revelations

“It didn’t stack up”: ICAC investigation into Gladys Berejiklian begins

Waleed Aly defends Gladys

"Offensive and wrong in every way": Gladys fires up over ICAC questions

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