Berejiklian ‘ devastated’ relationship exposed

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the exposure over her relationship with former MP Daryl Maguire has been a “personal nightmare”.

The Premier revealed on Monday she had been in a years- long relationship with Mr Maguire, who is at the centre of an inquiry conducted by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

“Without question, I stuffed up in my personal life,” the Premier said.

“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 NSW — 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.

“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,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Where I have failed is in my personal life and I accept that.”

The revelation Ms Berejiklian had been in a “close personal relationship” with Mr Maguire, during some of the years in which he is alleged to have engaged in corrupt conduct, led state Opposition Leader Jodi McKay to call for her resignation on Monday afternoon.

Even some in the Premier’s own party questioned whether she could remain in her position, with Liberal sources saying her time as leader could be over.

But Ms Berejiklian said she had no intention of resigning.