Gladys Berejiklian's former secret boyfriend, Daryl Maguire, will today front the corruption watchdog's inquiry into the former premier.
It will be Mr Maguire's first public comments to the Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry since Ms Berejiklian resigned in the wake of the announcement she was being investigated.
At question is whether she breached the public trust by "exercising public functions" while in a conflict of interest between her public duties and relationship with Mr Maguire.
READ MORE: Rent prices skyrocket at fastest rate in 13 years
The ICAC hearing on Wednesday heard Mr Maguire "had her ear" and that two projects in the former Wagga Wagga MP's electorate had particular priority in her government.
Gary Barnes, a public servant tasked with working on getting them funded, told the inquiry Mr Maguire was pushing the projects and said he was advised by government staff that he was well regarded by Ms Berejiklian.
ICAC is investigating whether Ms Berejiklian's private relationship led to grant funding going to two Wagga organisations: the Australian Clay Target Association in 2016 and 2017, and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in 2018.
Ms Berejiklian has denied any wrongdoing.
ICAC on Tuesday heard from Ms Berejiklian's former chief of staff, who said she knew about the relationship with Mr Maguire two years before it was made public but effectively accused the former premier of lying about the timing.
"(She) told me that she had had a historical, and I'm not sure if she used the word relationship, but I'll use it… she disclosed, in the past, with Mr Maguire I think she said relationship," Sarah Cruikshank said.
READ MORE: Cleo Smith's parents make new plea as cops check home for clues
She told ICAC Ms Berejiklian called her in 2018 just after Mr Maguire quit Parliament following commission hearing secret recordings of him discussing potential commissions with a local councillor from property deals with a wealthy Chinese developer.
"She said it was before she became premier... she said that a couple of times to me and that's when I found out there had been something in the past," Ms Cruikshank said.
Ms Berejiklian told ICAC last year the relationship only ended in 2020.
READ MORE: International travel opens up for fully vaccinated Australians
"She lied to you?" ICAC Commissioner Ruth McColl asked Ms Cruikshank on Tuesday.
"That's your word commissioner, but yes," she replied.
Former Nationals leader John Barilaro earlier in the week said he didn't know about the relationship between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire until Ms Berejiklian's bombshell evidence at the corruption watchdog last year.
He said there had potentially been a breach of the ministerial code of conduct, but "no corruption".
Ms Berejiklian was due to front ICAC on Thursday, but her appearance has also been pushed back.
from 9News https://ift.tt/3bhk7ot
via IFTTT
0 Comments