NSW ICAC finally confirms date for report into Gladys Berejiklian

The long-awaited findings of a corruption probe into Gladys Berejiklian will be released next week, more than 30 months after the then-premier revealed her “close personal relationship” with disgraced former MP Daryl Maguire.

Gladys Berejiklian on June 14, 2023. Picture: Monique Harmer

The findings of a corruption probe into Gladys Berejiklian will be released next Thursday, more than 30 months since the former premier revealed her “close personal relationship” with disgraced former MP Daryl Maguire.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Independent Commission Against Corruption finally confirmed a date for when the long-delayed report will be released.

“The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will furnish its Operation Keppel investigation report, concerning the then member of parliament for Wagga Wagga, the then premier, and others, to the Presiding Officers at the NSW parliament on Thursday, 29 June, 2023 at 9.00am,” it said.

Ms Berejiklian first gave evidence to the ICAC’s Operation Keppel in October of 2020. At the time, the ICAC was investigating the conduct of Mr Maguire.

Mr Maguire resigned from parliament in 2018 after giving evidence to a separate inquiry.

Gladys Berejiklian earlier this month. Picture: Daily Telegraph, Monique Harmer

Berejiklian has recently rented out her Northbridge home. Picture: realesate.com.au

In 2021, the corruption watchdog then expanded the investigation to probe Ms Berejiklian herself, forcing the then-premier to resign. The investigation’s public hearings concluded in November 2021.

The report into Operation Keppel has been beset by delays, with the ICAC forced in January to announce the findings would not be ready until after the March election.

The Commission has defended its work on the matter, including that of the commissioner, putting the delay down to the sheer complexity of the investigation, both factually and legally.

ICAC has been investigating whether Ms Berejiklian breached public trust by “exercising public functions” while having a conflict of interest based on her personal relationship Mr Maguire.

It is also probing whether Ms Berejiklian should have reported Mr Maguire’s conduct to the ICAC and whether she should have disclosed her relationship with the former MP.

Ms Berejiklian’s handling of proposed government grants for a gun club and a music Conservatorium in the Wagga Wagga electorate while in a relationship with Mr Maguire is also under the spotlight.

Ms Berejiklian has denied all wrongdoing during and since the inquiry and insisted that her relationship with Mr Maguire had not impacted her professional duties.

Ms Berejiklian sensationally revealed that she had been in a “close personal relationship” with Mr Maguire during an ICAC hearing in 2020.

In hearings in 2021, Ms Berejiklian agreed that she loved Mr Maguire, and they had considered marriage and children. They had spoken about him quitting parliament and then making their relationship public.

Ms Berejiklian said Mr Maguire was part of her “love circle” but said she did not consider him part of her “family” in the “legal sense”.

She told the ICAC that she would not disclose her relationship with Mr Maguire if she had her time again.

The delay in the ICAC finishing its report has incensed Coalition MPs, some of whom believe the report may have changed the outcome of the NSW election earlier this year.

The Daily Telegraph this month revealed that the commissioner in charge of the probe has earned more than $1.1 million for her work presiding over the operation since 2020.
Sources close to Ms berejiklian said that as recently as last week her lawyers had not seen the final report.