How Daryl Maguire’s alleged cash-for-visas scheme put ‘phantom workers’ in country town

Daryl Maguire and immigration agent Maggie Logan are facing charges over a cash-for-visas scheme following an ICAC investigation.

The former Member for Wagga Wagga, Daryl Maguire, has faced court via video link acused of a conspiracy around an alleged migration scheme.

Former MP Daryl Maguire and migration agent Maggie Logan (nee Wang) have been charged following a public investigation into a cash-for-visas scheme that allegedly opened Australia to Chinese migrants in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars.

Here’s how it all allegedly worked.

G8WAY INTERNATIONAL

Maguire was an undisclosed director of a company known as G8way International, which was officially run by his former campaign manager and friend Phil Elliott, the ICAC heard. Mr Elliott has not been charged.

G8way was set up in 2012 and allegedly offered “immigration services and assistance” on its website.

Daryl Maguire arrives at ICAC carpark via taxi from Castlereagh Street. Picture: Dylan Robinson

MAGGIE LOGAN/WANG

The ICAC heard Maguire met Maggie Wang, now known as Maggie Logan in 2012 and introduced her to businesses from Wagga.

Those businesses would allegedly agree to sign up Chinese nationals as employees and sponsor them so they can access regional migration visas.

Maggie Logan, nee Wang (in glasses), visiting NSW Parliament House in Sydney. She and Daryl Maguire are now charged as part of an alleged migration scheme Picture: ICAC

PHANTOM WORKERS

A number of Wagga business owners told the ICAC the Chinese employees would never show up to work, despite the lengthy immigration paperwork required to sponsor them.

The businesses did not pay the phantom workers’ wages, which were sometimes six-figure sums, because all the costs were allegedly covered.

The ICAC heard businesses were instructed to lie to immigration officials, telling them the missing workers were on leave.

There were 12 workers allegedly enlisted in Riverina businesses in exchange for money.

CASH PAYMENTS

The business owners told the ICAC they received $30,000 cash payments to take on each worker.

Logan told the ICAC she delivered $20,000 cash payments to Maguire, around NSW Parliament House, for each successful referral.

The funds were provided by the phantom worker, or their family, and allegedly hand delivered by Logan each time.

OFF THE BOOKS

Maguire told the ICAC he took the cash payments to Mr Elliott, back in Wagga, who banked the money into G8way’s accounts.

The ICAC heard some of the money was allegedly kept by Maguire and kept off the company’s books.

Daryl Maguire gives evidence at the ICAC more than a year after his secret tryst with Premier Berejiklian emerged.

ICAC HONES IN

The ICAC launched Operation Keppel to examine Maguire’s business interests after he came across their radar in a separate investigation into Canterbury City Council.

Keppel looked at possible links between Maguire’s political office and a variety of business dealings and entities linked to his electorate in Wagga Wagga, China and Sydney’s west.

The investigation into Maguire ultimately unearthed his secret relationship with then-Premier Gladys Berejiklian, which ended her political career. The former Premier has not been accused of wrongdoing and has not been charged in relation to the immigration scheme.

ICAC has yet to hand down its findings in relation to Ms Berejiklian’s dealings with Maguire.

MAGUIRE AND LOGAN CHARGED

Australian Border Force did not wait for the final ICAC report, which is unreleased, before laying charges.

Logan was charged on November 4 and Maguire on November 7 - they are both on bail.

Originally published as How Daryl Maguire’s alleged cash-for-visas scheme put ‘phantom workers’ in country town