Berejiklian ’in shock’ when sacking Maguire
A YEAR after Gladys Berejiklian revealed she had been in a secret relationship with a disgraced MP, the NSW corruption watchdog has started public hearings into whether she 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 clip from the interview, where counsel assisting the commission Scott Robertson asked Ms Berejiklian if she suspected Daryl Maguire had been engaged in corrupt conduct when she sacked him from his role as parliamentary secretary in July 2018.
“I didn't know,” she said. “I was in shock . . . I can’t remember what I thought at that time.”
The sacking happened soon after Mr Maguire was caught giving evidence to a separate ICAC inquiry that was contradicted by a bugged phone call.
At the time, Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire were in a secret relationship.
Mr Robertson said whether the former premier suspected Mr Maguire had engaged in corrupt conduct was relevant to one of the allegations the ICAC was investigating: whether she 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.
The third allegation being investigated is whether the relationship created a conflict of interest that resulted in Ms Berejiklian 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 that former deputy premier John Barilaro might be called to testify.
The ICAC has not yet said when Ms Berejiklian may testify. She said in her resignation speech she had “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,” she said.