Speaking to the media after a gruelling appearance before a corruption investigation into her conduct, Ms Berejiklian said she always put the public first.
"Every decision I made in terms of the public office I held was in the best interest of the community and the public, I stand by that today stronger than ever," she said.
Ms Berejiklian said her appearance before the Independent Commission Against Corruption had been a "difficult situation".
"Now I intend to get on with my life," she said.
The former Premier refused to take any questions from the media outside the ICAC.
Gladys Berejiklian ICAC: Daryl Maguire told ex-premier to get 'private phone'
Gladys Berejiklian has been grilled by the ICAC for a second day telling investigators a decision to reserve $20 million for a Wagga project was done in part to "curry favour" with voters. See how the day unfolded.
A decision to reserve $20 million for a project championed by Daryl Maguire was made in part to “curry favour” with voters in Wagga Wagga ahead of a by-election caused by Mr Maguire’s resignation, former Premier Gladys Berejiklian has told the corruption watchdog.
Ms Berejiklian said the Riverina Conservatorium of Music project was supported by the community, and was “good for the community”.
But she said the announcement to reserve funding was also a political one, “to curry favour with the community”.
“At the end of the day, whether we like it or not, that’s democracy,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian admitted that her government “threw money at seats in order to keep them”.
She said that fact would not be a “surprise to anybody in and around government”.
The former Premier angrily rejected a suggestion from counsel assisting Scott Robertson that reserving $20 million to upgrade the conservatorium was done to to “secure a legacy for Mr Maguire”.
“No, this was about keeping the seat,” she said.
Intercepted phone calls played to the ICAC have revealed that Ms Berejiklian promised to “throw money at Wagga” at the behest of her then secret lover, after Mr Maguire resigned from parliament.
In finishing his examination, Mr Robertson asked whether it “never occurred” to her to disclose her relationship with Mr Maguire in cabinet meetings.
“No,” Ms Berejiklian responded.
The ICAC has now adjourned.
See how the day unfolded below.
Updates
Premier speaks to media outside ICAC
Berejiklian's hearing concludes
Gladys Berejiklian's appearance at ICAC has ended, with the former premier and her ex-partner Daryl Maguire released from their summons.
The matter has been adjourned for today, with dates for inquiries to be determined.
Thanks for following along, we'll vbring you any more news on the matter as soon as we get it.
Berejiklian quizzed about Sidoti
The former premier was asked about her relationship with another disgraced MP, John Sidoti.
Ms Berejiklian agreed she had a "close friendship" with Mr Sidoti, whoresigned in September 2019 over allegations of corruption.
But she said her friendship with Mr Sidoti was "absolutely not" the same as her relationship with Mr Maguire, despite having "conversations" with Sidoti over his resignation.
ICAC Assistant Commisioner Ruth McColl shut down the line of questioning soon after, claiming it wasn't Ms Berejiklian's opinion of conflict of interest legislation the commision was after.
"I'm honest": Gladys hits back
The former premier has responded to comments from the ICAC's legal counsel inferring that she allegedly lied to the commission.
Ms Berejiklian responded to allegations she was lying about what she told two staff members about her relationship with Maguire while Premier, after it was alleged she told them it was a historic relationship not a current one in 2018.
"I've been honest and what I thought I remember, what I do remember, and I appreciate they have a different recollection," Ms Berejiklian said.
"That's not uncommon for people who have had conversations three and half years ago."
Gladys rejects staffer's account
Ms Berejiklian has hit back at comments that her recollections of telling staff about her relationship with Maguire were different to theirs.
She maintained she couldn't properly recall the conversation with former chief of staff Sarah Cruickshank, and whether she had addressed the relationship with Maguire as past or present.
She said she wouldn't dispute with Ms Cruickshank's belief the relationship with Maguire had ended, but said she "couldn't" remember if that was correct.
"That's her recollection, I respect that," the former premier said.
"I've provided my evidence to the best of my recollection.
Ms Berejiklian agreed that Ms Cruickshank had criticised Maguire to her directly, and that she had told the former premier to not have any further contact with him.
She argued the ICAC counsel was "proving her point" about the lack of relationship between her and Maguire because Ms Cruickshank didn't invite him to a personal gathering.
"That actually strengthens my case as to the status of the relationship," Ms Berejiklian said.
Conservatorium about the by-election, not Maguire
Gladys Berejiklian has rebuked claims she approved the million-dollar Riverina conservatorium project because she and Mr Maguire were in a relationship.
"No, this was about keeping the seat," she said.
"Mr Maguire's legacy is not relevant because we had a new candidate… anything we announced would be part of her legacy."
She also rejected comments by Mr Robertson that she should have disclosed her relationship with Maguire at "scores" of cabinet meetings.
"No," she said.
Tapped calls played again
ICAC has heard two tapped phone conversations played last week once again.
In the calls, Ms Berejiklian vowed to "throw money at Wagga… lots of it."
She also said she would give the Riverina city a stadium.
"I'll do that too, don't worry," she said during the call in 2018.
'Made sense' to 'throw money' at Wagga: Berejiklian
Ms Berejiklian has defended the decision to pull an extra $20 million out of NSW's regional development fund to build a recital hall attached to the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga.
She said it "made sense" to fund the hall there as the conservatorium was in Wagga Wagga, and said she "didn't care" about the finer details of the project.
"There's a whole range of lists you get during the by election about projects that are worthy to announce. You make a consider holistic consideration of what you announced, and this was one of them."
She also argued it was "regular" for governments to splash money in areas where there were by-elections.
"I don't think it's a surprise to anybody in and around government to know that we threw money at seats in order to keep them," she said.
"I'm not going to apologise for a program or project which would have given benefit to regional communities."
Mixed support for conservatorium project
Ms Berejiklian did agree there wasn't full support for the Wagga Wagga conservatorium project in the community and within her own office, but said she believed it was a "good project" for regional NSW.
"Some (staffers) supported it, some didn't… but to me it wasn't controversial, it was something that was going to benefit the region," she told ICAC
"It was regarded as a worthwhile project… arts and culture in the bush, all children, and all people should have access."
She added similar thoughts after asked by Mr Robertson about why some of her office staff were concerned about the project, calling it a "buy-election".
"Every by-election has that concern… political parties will make announcements based on what they think is going to curry favour in the community."
Ms Berejiklian said she had taken Maguire's advice on the project because of his long history as Wagga Wagga's MP.
"He had provided feedback to me and to my office… you wouldn't disregard what he would recommend… he'd been a member for around 20 years at that stafe, so obviously if he felt as a local member this was something that would get votes, that would be something we would consider."
Maguire suggested by-election announcement
Maguire suggested a conservatorium of music to be annoucned for Wagga Wagga ahead of the seat's by-election after he resigned, according to the former premier.
Gladys Berejiklian agreed that Maguire had put forward the proposal for the project, declaring she had told counsel assisting the ICAC Scott Robertson this in an earlier private hearing.
"You asked me in the private hearing, and showed me evidence to that effect, so yes," she said.
Ms Berejiklian said the project was announced in a bid to make sure the Liberals new Wagga candidate was looked upon "favourably".
"In this instance, we had a new candidate… you look for announcements which are going to cause the community to feel favourably about (them)," she said.
"We though the public would have supported (the project)."
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