Gladys Berejiklian, Daryl Maguire: NSW Premier asks press for respect

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been offended by “innuendo” regarding her past relationship with disgraced MP Daryl Maguire.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has asked for her position to be respected after facing a barrage of questions from reporters about her personal life and past relationship with disgraced Liberal MP Daryl Maguire.

Mr Maguire spent Wednesday giving evidence at an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hearing in Sydney, making a number of damning admissions including that he sought to “monetise” his parliamentary office and provide access to senior political figures.

It was revealed this week he spent five years in a secret intimate relationship with Ms Berejiklian.

The Premier was asked on Wednesday whether his “greed” could be the reason he pursued a close relationship with her, to obtain “that access of influence” he’s admitted to before ICAC.

“I’ll let others comment on that but what I will say is that in relation to me, in relation to my colleagues, in relation to the public servants that were involved, he got nowhere,” she said.

“Notwithstanding his intentions, he got nowhere, and that is what is important here.”

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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian faced another day of questioning about her past relationship on Wednesday. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Ms Berejiklian said she has answered questions this week about “uncomfortable” issues she doesn’t discuss with the people closest to her.

“I will not have innuendo, incorrect statements put to me which I have found offensive, but in due course I have accepted to answer everything because it is in the public interest for the public to have confidence in me, and that’s why I’ve been very, very open about things that are very difficult to talk about,” she said.

“Things I don’t talk about even with the people closest to me, but I have done that because the public deserves to know they have a Premier that knows the distinction between her personal life, how important her public office is and who also knows that every minute of my day that I am at work as the Premier of this state, which is 24/7, I am here for the people of this great state.”

There was also a heated exchange between Ms Berejiklian and one reporter who interjected to ask about Mr Maguire’s access during their relationship.

“Excuse me, let me finish. I’ve given you your turn, let me finish,” the Premier said.

“I say to the people of this great state, you elected me, you deserve me to be focused on you, you deserve for me to be focused on the issues that matter to you and that’s exactly what I will do.

“I know the people of this state know that I have done nothing wrong. I never have and I never will. I appreciate the questions you all need to ask and I’ve answered them in full detail, but you also have to respect my position as Premier and let me do my job.”

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Gladys Berejiklian and Daryl Maguire. Picture: Twitter

Ms Berejiklian reiterated the claim she has made all week about the “clear separation” between what she does in her personal life and public life.

“I say to the people of this great state, I apologise for the distraction, it was out of my control,” she said.

“I apologise for that completely.”

Speaking about Mr Maguire’s revelations at ICAC so far, she said, “this gentleman, well, this person” had no success in his wrongdoing.

“Obviously he fooled a lot of people,” she said.

“He fooled a lot of people because, clearly, he was conducting activities he shouldn’t have and many people were not aware of that.”

Asked if he had “made a fool of her”, she said “that’s for others to make judgment on”.