![]() ![]() Obeid’s recent sentencing over a mine license conspiracy follows another ICAC inquiry that started almost ten years ago. The DPP is still deciding whether criminal charges will be laid. For example, ICAC’s Operation Credo found in August 2017 that former NSW Labor ministers Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi and others had acted corruptly by faking a cabinet minute and referred them to the DPP. The DPP process could then take some time. The evidence of the last two weeks has also shown how Berekilian was involved in decision-making processes concerning substantial funds flowing to Maguire’s electorate of Wagga Wagga.īerejiklian is due to appear at ICAC again next week. On this alone, she runs the risk of being accused of having misled ICAC. He also had a key and ongoing access to her home.įor her part, on Friday, Berejiklian said Maguire was part of her “love circle of people that I strongly cared for” but things were not serious enough to introduce him to her parents and sisters. This week, via Maguire, we have also heard the couple talked about having a child. However, in an interview shortly after with The Sunday Telegaph she spoke of how she once had hopes to marry Maguire. The form of words she used during her last ICAC appearance in October last year was that they were “ close” not “intimate”, so it was not not serious enough to warrant disclosure. Under the Ministerial Code of Conduct, Berejiklian had an obligation to do so if the relationship was “intimate” and if she was involved in deciding any matter that could reasonably be expected to confer a private benefit on him.Īfter a bombshell day at ICAC, questions must be asked about integrity in Australian politics ICAC’s Operation Keppel investigation was always going to be dangerous for Berejiklian.Ī crucial matter arising from hearings in October 2020 was whether Berejiklian should have publicly disclosed her relationship with the former MP. They also universally said that being in a secret relationship with Maguire and being involved in government decisions that would benefit him was an obvious conflict of interest that should have been declared. The evidence of witnesses, which include former staffers, officials, former premier Mike Baird and former Nationals leader John Barilaro, has been notable for two things.Īlmost all described Berejiklian as competent and conscientious. Robertson has been logical, forensic, and relentless in his questioning.īarrister Scott Robertson is the ICAC assisting counsel. ICAC’s forensic approachįrom the beginning, the tone of the hearing has been more like a prosecution than an investigation. Counsel assisting, Scott Robertson ominously replied: “We’ll let the lawyers argue about the law”. Berejiklian also told the ICAC there was no conflict of interest in the actions she took to facilitate projects Maguire had an interest in as she had not made a personal profit.Īsked why she had described him in an intercepted message as “family”, Berejiklian said he was family “in terms of my feelings but definitely not in any legal sense”. ![]() She has argued her undisclosed relationship with disgraced former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire was not of “sufficient standard or sufficient signifiance” to be publicly declared. This saw Berejiklian continue to maintain she has done nothing wrong. After two weeks of sensational Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hearings into the conduct of Gladys Berejiklian, we have finally heard from the former NSW premier herself. ![]()
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