Daryl Maguire admits being in a 'on again, off again' relationship with Gladys Berejiklian at ICAC - Daily Mail

'It was on-again, off-again': 'Dodgy Daryl' Maguire finally admits his secret relationship with Gladys Berejiklian at ICAC - and gives a blunt answer when asked if they are STILL together

• Daryl Maguire has been grilled about relationship with Gladys Berejiklian
• Former Wagga Wagga MP says their love affair was 'on again, off again'
• Asked if they were still in a relationship he replied: 'Not after this I wouldn't be'
• ICAC examines what Premier knew, didn't know about Badgery's Creek deal 
• Maguire hoped to make 'up to' $1.5million from helping Louise Waterhouse sale
• Inquiry hears he 'likely' told Berejiklian about his own $1.5 million debt 
• Opposition Leader asks if Premier is Maguire's 'sounding board for corruption'
• Berejiklian tells Parliament that question is 'extremely offensive and wrong' 

By Daniel Piotrowski for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 03:06 BST, 15 October 2020 | Updated: 06:07 BST, 15 October 2020

'On again, off again': Daryl Maguire has revealed the nature of his relationship with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian

Former MP Daryl Maguire has admitted to a secret love affair with Gladys Berejiklian - describing it as 'on again, off again' and revealing they had planned a future together.

The ex-politician was cross-examined  about his relationship with the NSW Premier at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Thursday afternoon.

The ICAC is attempting to pin down what the Liberal leader knew about a land deal at Badgerys Creek, near the site of Sydney's forthcoming second airport.

The inquiry has heard then-Wagga Wagga MP Maguire hoped to make up to $1.5 million in the sale of land owned by racing heiress Louise Waterhouse, before he retired. 

Maguire today admitted that he and Berejiklian were in a 'close personal relationship' at the time of a September 5, 2017 call where Maguire spoke of 'getting Badgerys Creek stuff done'. 

'We were always friends,' said Maguire, 61. 'But, um, it was on-again off-again.' 

Maguire said their relationship had began sometime about '2015, 2016' and ended in 'August, September (of this year) ... I can't be clear'. 

He confessed to discussing his 'problems in life' with Berejiklian, including their possible future together. They had planned on possibly going public with their relationship about the time of the 2019 state election, the inquiry heard, if he had retired.

Former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire said his relationship with Berejiklian began in 2015 or 2016 and was born out of a long friendship. Above, the NSW Premier after she was slammed with a question she described as 'extremely offensive' and 'wrong'

Daryl Maguire is pictured with Louise Waterhouse and his business associate Ho Yuen Li

Gladys Berejiklian lashes out amid 'sounding board for corruption' attack

Labor leader Jodi McKay asked the NSW Premier to admit she was a 'sounding board for corruption' in Parliament on Thursday - which Berejiklian said was 'wrong in every single way'

The revelations at the inquiry sparked provocative questions and a furious response from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at State Parliament.

Opposition Leader Jodi McKay asked Berejiklian: 'Daryl Maguire has today given evidence to ICAC that he sought your guidance and reassurance on solving his major financial problems.

'Will you admit that you were his sounding board for corruption?' 

Berejiklian said: 'The question put by the leader of the Opposition is both extremely offensive, wrong in every single way and I ask her to either withdraw it or else say it out there.'

She pointed outside, where Ms McKay's statement wouldn't be protected by parliamentary privilege. 

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Asked if he told the Premier about his $1.5 million in debts, Maguire admitted he 'may have.'

'I think in a general discussion, um, I may have raised it, seeking some guidance about - oh, reassurance about what I was doing,' he told the inquiry.

'That's my recollection, is I would have raised it to her. 

'I only have a few friends that you can raise these things with and I would have run it past her, perhaps, to get some, um, um, get her view.'   

Counsel assisting ICAC Scott Robertson grilled Maguire about his call to Berejiklian where he mentioned the 'Badgerys Creek stuff'.

'Do we take it from that that you had explained to Ms Berejiklian, in advance of this call of 5 September, 2017, what the Badgerys Creek stuff was?'

Maguire said: 'I can't recall doing it. But according to the (transcript) you could assume that.'  

'Doing the best you can, what did you tell her about the Badgerys Creek stuff?' he was asked.

'I don't recall. I just don't recall what I would have said.' 

Pressed further, Maguire said: 'I don't know that I ever went into specifics. It was just broad discussion stuff.' 

Later, Mr Robertson asked: 'Presumably, you at least told her Ms (Louise) Waterhouse had some relevance to what you'd describe as the "Badgerys Creek stuff?"'

Maguire said: 'Perhaps, yes.'

Robertson: 'Well, perhaps or yes?

'I'm not sure. I... I'm just not sure.'   

(The inquiry has previously revealed how Waterhouse sent Berejiklian's personal email address two messages about the development, requesting assistance.)

Mr Robertson asked Maguire if he felt he could discuss with the Premier a 'potential future for both of you going forward.'

'Yes, in a relationship, yes that's right,' Maguire said. 

At one point, Mr Robertson asked his relationship with Berejiklian continued to the present day.

'Are you still (in a relationship?)' Mr Robertson asked.

'Not after this I wouldn't be,' he said, in a clear reference to the corruption investigation examining whether he used his public office for personal financial gain.

The hearing was closed to the public about 1pm to hear about a private matter involving Maguire and Berejiklian. The inquiry has been adjourned until 10am Friday.

'I don't think I would have paid much attention': Gladys Berejiklian on her Badgerys Creek call to secret lover Daryl Maguire 

After the September 2017 call about 'Badgerys Creek stuff', was played to her on Monday, counsel assisting ICAC Scott Robertson asked Premier Berejiklian the following questions:

ROBERTSON: 'So do you agree that as 5 September, 2017, you knew that Mr Maguire had something to do with 'Badgerys Creek stuff' and that in the event that it was successful, he would be debt free?'

BEREJIKLIAN: Mr Robertson, I would have, I, I don't think I would have paid much attention to this, because I would have assumed it's quite fanciful, in terms of what he was suggesting and as you note, the details are very scant. So I, I wouldn't have paid much attention to, to what was there. Mmm. 

ROBERTSON: Well, you don't say it was fanciful, you say, 'I can believe it,' or something at least with the word 'believe' in it.

BEREJIKLIAN: Yeah, but I can't, yeah, but I can't, I can't even assure you that I was listening properly or, or, or just being polite. Yep. 

ROBERTSON: I mean, as at about August and September of 2017, the forthcoming Western Sydney Airport must have been something that was foremost in your thoughts at least as a matter of public policy at about that point in time. 

BEREJIKLIAN: Oh, that was actually foremost in our thoughts a, a decade before that. I  mean, that's, that was on the public record as a, as a major issue.

ROBERTSON: But particularly in about August or September of 2017, the Western Sydney Airport was a matter that which with you were concerned about and involved as Premier. Is that right?

BEREJIKLIAN: But I, but I wouldn't say there was anything especial about any development of that issue at that time. This was a big issue, a national issue on the public record that had been a national issue on the public record for some time. So I, I'm not, I'm not sure why you would think there was anything significant on that issue publicly at that time.

Source: ICAC Transcript, October 12 2020 

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'Red wine' and a 'drop in' to the Premier's office 

Maguire told the inquiry earlier on Thursday how he dragged the Premier into dealings with his property developer mate, Joe Alha.    

After a 'few glasses of red' at his parliamentary office on November 15, 2017, Maguire walked Joseph Alha to Berejiklian's office at State Parliament in Sydney. 

The 'drop in' meeting with Berejiklian went for little more than two minutes and all parties just exchanged 'niceties', the former Wagga Wagga MP claimed.

'He adores her and just wants to say hello,' Maguire said of Alha. He told the inquiry there was no discussion of Mr Alha's planning matters.

The former politician poured scorn on the idea the developer could still be carrying his glass of wine around when they asked if they could see the Premier.

'I wouldn't allow anyone to walk around Parliament with a glass of red,' said Maguire -  who has admitted receiving bags of cash at his parliamentary office in a cash-for-visa scheme.

'Or a glass of white?' counsel assisting the inquest Scott Robertson asked.

Maguire replied: 'Any glass. I would frown on that.'

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's lover Daryl Maguire 'dropped in' to her office with his property developer mate Joseph Alha (right) and 'exchanged niceties', the inquiry heard

Maguire repeatedly referred to the Premier as 'Glad' during Thursday's hearing, but is yet to talk in detail about their five-year relationship which was sensationally exposed this week.

The inquiry heard on February 28, 2018, Maguire told the same developer to write an email or letter to the Planning Minister Anthony Roberts - and CC in the Premier.

Maguire told Alha: 'You are not stupid, you can get a letter written and get it done and then you CC the boss and you send it to Roberts.'

'How do I get the boss's email?' Alha asked.

'I'll fix it,' Maguire said. 'You just CC in Gladys Berejiklian.

'You just send it to Roberts and send a copy to me. I'll get it to her.' 

Asked if he was offering to personally deliver Mr Alha's complaint to the Premier, Maguire told the inquiry: 'I said I'll get it to her.'  

'Do you recall where you gave it to her?' Mr Robertson asked. 

'No, I don't.'

'Do you recall if anything came of this ... sending a letter to the minister ... to the Premier, whether it led to anything at all?' Mr Roberston asked.

'No, I don't recall.'

Maguire went on to admit his none of his 'drop ins' or meetings led to changes in policy or to site-specific developments.

'Not to my knowledge,' he said. 

Daryl Maguire is being grilled by the ICAC over his dealings while the member for Wagga Wagga between 2012 and 2018

Maguire on Wednesday admitted 'monetising' his parliamentary position as an MP, parliamentary secretary and chair of the 'friends of the Asia-Pacific' committee. 

He confessed to running a cash-for-visa scheme from his office and being a secret director of a company, G8way International, which 'ultimately' sought to sell access to the highest levels of government.

Berejiklian has denied any wrongdoing. 'I stuffed up in my personal life,' the Premier said this week.

On Monday, the Premier admitted being in a five-year 'close personal relationship' with Maguire.

In material before the inquiry, Berejiklian described him as her 'numero uno' - Spanish for number one - and Maguire called her 'babe'. 

Maguire's evidence appears likely to continue through to Friday. 

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2020-10-15 05:02:35Z
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