New twist in Gladys Berejiklian’s ICAC corruption inquiry

The NSW corruption watchdog has given an update on its investigation into former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian.

The corruption inquiry into former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian’s conduct in office has agreed to give participants more time to make submissions.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption issued an update on its website on Wednesday afternoon saying “certain parties” had requested an extension, which was granted.

Those submissions were previously due on Monday but will now be accepted by May 9.

Gladys Berejiklian testified publicly before the commission last year.

“The submissions of Counsel Assisting were provided to relevant persons (or their legal representatives) on 15 February 2022,” the commission wrote.

“All submissions in response to the submissions of counsel assisting were to be provided to the commission by 28 March 2022.

“Some parties requested and were granted an extension of time in which to make their submissions.”

The update also said submissions would be subject to suppression orders.

An ICAC spokeswoman would not say who the parties were or why the decision was made.

Operation Keppel was launched in 2020 to probe the dealings of former Wagga Wagga MP Darryl Maguire and was extended to investigate Ms Berejiklian as well after it was revealed the two carried on a secret relationship.

The ICAC is examining whether Ms Berejiklian breached the public’s trust in the course of her tryst with Mr Maguire.

Gladys Berejiklian resigned as NSW Premier in October last year. Picture: Toby Zerna

She denied all wrongdoing when she testified before the commission last year.

Mr Maguire previously agreed with suggestions by the counsel assisting he misused his parliamentary position for personal gain.

Ms Berejiklian was the NSW Premier from 2017 until October last year, when she resigned following the ICAC’s announcement it would investigate her.

Later that month Ms Berejiklian took the witness box at the commission and responded to a series of detailed questions about her relationship with Mr Maguire.

The allegations put to her included that Ms Berejiklian failed to report Mr Maguire’s allegedly corrupt behaviour to authorities, that she “encouraged” that behaviour by remaining silent, and that she had a conflict of interest when she used her power as treasurer and premier to deal with money requests by the MP.

The commission was played recorded phone calls between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire where she was heard vowing to “throw money” at his electorate after he retired from politics.

The ICAC also heard from other NSW Ministers and staffers in Ms Berejiklian’s office.

ICAC investigations generally take years to wrap up and the commission has given no indication how long it will take before it publishes its findings from Operation Keppel.