Daryl Maguire breaks silence after scathing ICAC report

Corrupt former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire has come out on the defensive after a scathing Independent Commission Against Corruption report found he had misused his role as a member of parliament to advance his private financial interests.

After the ICAC last week found the former Wagga Wagga MP engaged in serious corrupt conduct alongside then-premier Gladys Berejiklian, Maguire released a statement through his lawyers on Monday in which he sought to portray himself as a “vociferous advocate” for his community.

Maguire admitted during hearings at the ICAC in October 2020 that he sought to “monetise” his office as a member of parliament to make money for himself and his associates.

Former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire in a file picture.Credit: Janie Barrett

In a statement on Monday, Maguire’s lawyer, Hunt & Hunt partner Jim Harrowell, said: “Let it not be forgotten that during his time representing the people of Wagga and region he worked tirelessly for his constituents.

“Indeed, he was described in evidence as a dog with a bone, a vociferous advocate for the electorate, or a pain in the arse when it came to getting improvements for the Wagga electorate.”

Harrowell said Maguire sought funding for upgrades to the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital and Tumut Hospital in his electorate “entirely without any expectation of any personnel [sic] benefit”.

“Daryl Maguire is proud of his many achievements serving the electorate of Wagga and NSW and strongly denies all allegations referring to ... projects [in his electorate].”

In a report released on Thursday, the ICAC found Maguire had engaged in serious corrupt conduct.

It also made a serious corrupt conduct finding against Berejiklian, with whom Maguire had a secret years-long relationship, for failing to report her suspicions about Maguire to the ICAC and her involvement in multimillion-dollar government grants to two projects in Maguire’s electorate between 2016 and 2018. Berejiklian, who was treasurer and later premier, did not disclose the relationship during this time.

The response to the findings against Berejiklian has been mixed. Senior Liberal Party figures have rallied around the former premier and attacked the anti-corruption watchdog, while the current Labor premier, Chris Minns, declined to endorse its findings.

Both sides of politics have been united in condemning Maguire after the ICAC found he had used his position to “enrich” himself for several years. Minns described the behaviour uncovered by the ICAC as “deplorable”, while Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said his actions were a “reprehensible abuse of his position”.

The government has indicated it was likely to accept recommendations from the anti-corruption watchdog to improve MP training on issues such as conflicts of interest.

In the statement on Monday Harrowell took aim at the “appalling behaviour” of journalists, saying there had been “serious invasions” of the privacy of Maguire and his family and “three traffic near collisions”. He urged media outlets to “desist” in “unsafe reckless activities”.

“The presumption of innocence is the foundation of our legal system and should be respected by all,” Harrowell said.

“The legal advisors and Daryl Maguire will make no further comment nor debate the ICAC report with media or give interviews as such statements and interviews could affect any future legal action that Daryl Maguire and his team may take or respond to.”

The watchdog found Maguire improperly used his office, and the resources to which he had access as an MP, between 2012 and August 2018 to benefit G8wayInternational Pty Ltd, “a company of which he was in substance a director and whose profits he had an arrangement to share with others”.

The commission said Maguire “also misused his role as an MP to advance his own financial interests, as well as the commercial interests of his associates, in connection with an immigration scheme that he promoted to his constituents and others connected with his electoral district”.

Berejiklian was not accused of involvement in this conduct.

Maguire may face criminal charges following the watchdog’s findings. However, it did not recommend that the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions consider criminal charges against Berejiklian. The ICAC does not conduct prosecutions, which are the responsibility of the DPP.

Before the release of the ICAC’s most recent report, Maguire was charged last month with one count of giving false or misleading evidence in 2018 to a previous ICAC inquiry, dubbed Operation Dasha. He has yet to enter a plea.

No corruption findings were made against him as a result of that inquiry but Maguire admitted during his evidence that he had discussed a plan to broker land deals for a property developer and split the commissions with a local councillor. Ultimately, no money changed hands.

Separately, Maguire was charged last year over an alleged cash-for-visas scheme. He has yet to enter a plea. Berejiklian is not accused of any involvement in that alleged conduct.

In a statement on Thursday, Berejiklian said that “serving the people of NSW was an honour and a privilege” and “at all times I have worked my hardest in the public interest. Nothing in this report demonstrates otherwise. Thank you to members of the public for their incredible support. This will sustain me always.”

She hinted at a Supreme Court challenge to the findings and said “the report is currently being examined by my legal team”.

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.