'I don't need to know': What happened at Monday's ICAC hearing
Premier Gladys Berejiklian is being defended by her ministers this morning following an explosive session of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Monday.
Called to answer questions in relation to allegations against former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire, the Premier revealed she was in a "close, personal relationship" with Mr Maguire from just after the 2015 state election.
Mr Maguire has been the subject of a four-week public probe by the ICAC, investigating whether he misused his public office in the pursuit of his own financial interests. The ICAC heard revelations on Monday that Ms Berejiklian knew Mr Maguire was receiving commissions for brokering property deals as far back as 2014.
A series of intercepted phone calls between Mr Maguire and Ms Berejiklian were played to the hearing on Monday, in which Mr Maguire disclosed various details of his finances and possible business schemes. In response to some details of a possible business deal, the Premier told Mr Maguire: "I don't need to know."
She later told the hearing: "I would never, ever turn a blind eye from any responsibility I had to disclose any wrongdoing that I saw, or any activity that I thought was not in keeping with what a member of Parliament should be doing and I want to make that very clear."
Mr Maguire will start giving evidence on Wednesday, when his relationship with the Premier is expected to come under scrutiny. The pair had been friends and colleagues for 15 years.
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The airport intersection that is front and centre of the ICAC inquiry
By Lucy Cormack and Matt O'Sullivan
It was the road intersection that disgraced NSW politician Daryl Maguire hoped would help pave his way to a better life after Parliament.
The proposed location of the intersection at the southern end of the new airport at Badgerys Creek in western Sydney was a pressing concern for racing heir and landowner Louise Raedler Waterhouse: moving the location was one of the keys to Ms Waterhouse selling the land next to the airport site to a Chinese company in 2017, or later developing it into a logistics hub.
Daryl Maguire lobbied to moved an intersection on the boundary of the new airport.Credit:Wolter Peeters
If the $330 million sale of the Waterhouse family’s 233-hectare property had eventuated, Mr Maguire and his Chinese business associate stood to gain a commission of more than half a million dollars.
The lobbying to shift the intersection and rezone the area to the west of the airport has been a key element at a corruption inquiry into the former Liberal member for Wagga Wagga. Over the past three weeks the inquiry has heard allegations Mr Maguire, while an MP, agreed to "grease the wheels" for Ms Raedler Waterhouse by connecting her with Premier Gladys Berejiklian and ministers.
It also emerged on Monday Mr Maguire had informed the Premier that he used her office foyer to meet with Ms Raedler Waterhouse.
Berejiklian not the only state leader facing a no confidence motion...
By Mary Ward
Premier Gladys Berejiklian is not the only state leader facing a no confidence motion in Parliament today: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is also expected to face one this morning.
The Andrews government will face fresh scrutiny over the bungling of the hotel quarantine program and its two major scalps – Health Minister Jenny Mikakos and the head of the public service Chris Eccles – when Victorian state Parliament resumes today. Victoria recorded 12 new coronavirus cases and one death in its latest 24-hour reporting period.
Like, NSW's, the Victorian motion of no confidence will likely be also of no consequence: Labor has a 55-38 majority in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.
Government needs to look at 'next steps': Liberal MP
By Tom Rabe
While many of the Premier’s party colleagues have jumped to her defence this morning, Liberal MP Matthew Mason-Cox said yesterday’s revelations were extremely damaging.
"I think the government has had a terrible day yesterday with the premier and I think we really seriously now need to look at the next steps," Mr Mason-Cox said as he entered Parliament.
Matthew Mason-Cox.Credit:Fairfax Media
"It’s too early to tell, Gladys, I think, has the party room’s support but discussions in the party room will no doubt be florid today."
Mr Mason-Cox said the government might need to "batten down the hatches and move on".
Premier arrives at Parliament as ministers state support
By Tom Rabe
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has arrived at NSW Parliament for what promises to be an eventful sitting day.
Ms Berejiklian had her head down as her car entered the back gates of Parliament, less than 24 hours after she revealed to ICAC her secret relationship with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire.
Gladys Berejiklian arrives at NSW Parliament this morning.Credit:Nick Moir
On his way through Parliament’s front door, Liberal Minister Don Harwin said he “absolutely” supported Ms Berejiklian.
Nationals MPs Trevor Khan, Michael Johnsen and Melinda Pavey all supported the Premier.
“She has my absolute support and my respect,” Mr Khan said.
“I know her to be a very private person, I’ve always respected her for that and I continue to support her.”
Mr Johnsen said the only thing that shocked him was that she was “punching below her weight.”
However Nationals MPs Adam Marshall and Ben Franklin were tight lipped as they entered the building.
Out for his morning run, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet echoed his statement from yesterday, saying Ms Berejiklian was a “great premier, doing a great job”.
Premier was 'evasive' at inquiry: McKay
By Mary Ward
NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay has accused Premier Gladys Berejiklian of being "evasive" at yesterday's ICAC hearing.
"What I saw yesterday was a premier who is focusing on a bad decision she made in a relationship," Ms McKay told Today.
"And I think that is unfortunate. But we all make bad decisions in relationships – I have made bad decisions in relationships – [and] that doesn't mean that that stops you from reporting where necessary and taking action, and she didn't do that."
As someone who has previously lost a political position following an ICAC investigation, Ms McKay said she had "a sick feeling in [her] stomach that we are accepting standards in this state we shouldn't be accepting".
"The Premier has turned up for work every day – I have praised her for the job that she has done in part – but I will not sit back and accept that simply because she says she was in a bad relationship that it is why this corruption and misconduct was allowed to occur. We shouldn't accept that."
'It's not about who she had a relationship with': NSW Greens
By Mary Ward
NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge has weighed in on the scandal facing the government this morning, after yesterday saying he believed Ms Berejiklian's position was "untenable".
Premier 'OK' as she leaves home
By Mary Ward
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has told reporters she is "okay" while leaving her north shore home this morning after a day she described as a "personal nightmare".
The Premier ignored questions about whether she had the support of the party room, instead telling reporters to "have a lovely day".
The Premier is having her breakfast of choice: Cheds.
Premier will 'absolutely' survive no confidence vote
By Mary Ward
Transport Minister Andrew Constance says Premier Gladys Berejiklian will "absolutely" survive a proposed motion of no confidence to be moved by Labor in state Parliament.
"It's just typical Labor games," Mr Constance told Fran Kelly on RN Breakfast.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Transport Minister Andrew Constance.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
Asked about a statement from a long-term Liberal MP that the Premier's position was untenable, Mr Constance said he and many of his colleagues had been inundated with "incredible messages from community members who have been touched by Gladys Berejiklian".
"Making it crystal clear she is going nowhere," he said, later adding the Premier was "too good to lose" and "Glad's going nowhere".
The Transport Minister said statements by Labor leader Jodi McKay that the Premier was a fraud "does nobody any service".
Asked if NSW could be seeing its third premier in six years, Mr Constance said he doubted it, adding that he personally did not think former premier Barry O'Farrell should have resigned amid his own ICAC investigation, which ultimately cleared him of wrongdoing:
"I thought at the time that was obviously the wrong decision and he shouldn't have made it," Mr Constance said.
Berejiklian 'used victim card', should have disclosed relationship: NSW Labor
By Mary Ward
NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay says Premier Gladys Berejiklian should have disclosed her relationship with Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire when ICAC first focused on his dealings.
"In July 2018, when ICAC found he was misbehaving she knew as well what he was involved in and did nothing," Ms McKay claimed on ABC News Breakfast this morning.
NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay says Premier Gladys Berejiklian should have disclosed her relationship and has called for her resignation.Credit:Edwina Pickles, Rhett Wyman
"It took her then eight days to take action against him. She should have disclosed then that she was in a relationship with him. She should have reported to ICAC what she knew and she failed on both accounts. Instead, she continued a relationship with a corrupt MP and did not disclose that to anyone."
Yesterday, the Premier said she believed her relationship was not "of sufficient status" to disclose to anyone – even close friends or family.
Ms McKay said she believed the Premier had "been complicit in corruption" and accused her of using "the victim card" in making yesterday's hearing about her personal life.
"I so despair over that," she said.
"I was so disappointed yesterday when she used the victim card. As a woman, we've got to be better than that.
"The standard of men and women has got to be equal and she has failed on every count."
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2020-10-12 22:09:00Z
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