NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has told a corruption inquiry she had been in a “close personal relationship” with Daryl Maguire.
The Premier gave evidence at an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry today investigating whether former Member for Wagga Wagga Mr Maguire used his position for personal gain.
Ms Berejiklian told the inquiry she was in a close personal relationship with Mr Maguire from around the time of the 2015 state election up until a few months ago.
“When I was asked to support this inquiry it became apparent to me that I should have absolutely no contact anymore and I ceased all contact,” Ms Berejiklian told the inquiry.
Ms Berejiklian said their relationship wasn’t generally known among MPs and they sought to keep it private in part because it may have been awkward.
“More substantially, I’m a very private person and I didn’t feel the relationship had sufficient substance for it to be made public,” Ms Berejiklian said.
She said if Mr Maguire had resigned from Parliament she may have considered making the relationship public.
Ms Berejiklian told the inquiry she was aware Mr Maguire had business interests but assumed he disclosed those at the appropriate times.
The inquiry was shown emails from 2014 where Mr Maguire told Ms Berejiklian he was entitled to a commission or other payment in relation to a property sale or development.
The inquiry heard last week
Mr Maguire gave out the Premier’s private email address to Western Sydney landowner Louise Waterhouse, to help her lobby for changes.
The inquiry continues.
-more to come
The post NSW ICAC probe: Premier admits ‘close personal relationship’ with former MP appeared first on The New Daily.
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