Disgraced former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire told a corruption probe his relationship with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian began in 2014, before the two previously declared
The testimony was presented Thursday at a private hearing of the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC), part of which was made public by the commission on Friday after the conclusion of Mr. Maguire
The Prime Minister told the ICAC on Monday the relationship started around the time of the New South Wales election in March 2015
During the private session, ICAC assistant lawyer Scott Robertson asked Mr. Maguire: « If it’s at least possible that a close personal relationship, a close emotional attachment, and a close relationship between you and Ms. Berejiklian in fact been on foot at some point prior to 2015? »
Robertson: « So, doing your best, when do you think the relationship turned into something that could best be described as a close personal relationship as opposed to a friendship? »
Maguire: « Oh, I don’t know if I could put a date on it We were still good friends and slowly over time the relationship developed I, I couldn’t tell you when that started «
Robertson: « Would it be fair to say that you were in a close personal relationship with Ms. Berejiklian during the 2014 calendar year?
In another private session on Friday, Mr. Maguire was asked about his claim the relationship started in 2013 and said it started « at some point » in 2014
The corruption watchdog is investigating whether Mr. Maguire, former MP for Wagga Wagga, used his position for financial gain
A transcript of Mr. Maguire was mistakenly posted to the ICAC website yesterday, but deleted less than an hour later
This morning Assistant Commissioner Ruth McColl apologized to the Prime Minister and Mr. Maguire for the « inadvertently » uploaded transcript
Ms Berejiklian’s attorney, Arthur Moses SC, also asked the ICAC to investigate who might have downloaded the transcript from the ICAC website during the time it was available online, describing it as a « violation » of the privacy and security of the Prime Minister
Ms Berejiklian’s judgment has come under scrutiny since she revealed the relationship while testifying before the ICAC on Monday
The investigation heard a number of interceptions of telephone calls between Mr. Maguire and Mme Berejiklian during which he is heard talking to her about his business relationship
But Ms Berejiklian claimed she was never told of the details and never got involved in her financial affairs
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Gladys Berejiklian NSW Premier
World News – UA – NSW Premier’s relationship with a disgraced former MP began a year earlier than the two had said, a declared the ICAC
