Daryl Maguire ICAC: Gladys Berejiklian’s ex lover releases final report for Operation Keppel

The long awaited results of a corruption probe into the former ex-boyfriend of Gladys Berejiklian has been released.

Nearly three years after the start of the corruption probe that undid former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and her former lover Daryl Maguire, the findings confirmed they both engaged in “serious corrupt conduct”.

Thursday’s media coverage may have zoned in on the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (ICAC) lashing of Ms Berejiklian, the serious misconduct findings and a referral to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) put against the former Wagga Wagga MP were more considerable.

Mr Maguire was found to have improperly used his public office during his time as a MP in order to promote his own financial interests, and those of his associates while deliberately not disclosing his position, and potential pecuniary benefits.

In particular the report examined his relationship with G8wayInternational, which said Mr Maguire was “in substance a director” and would share in the profits.

In a damning statement, the report said Mr Maguire used his “services as a member of Parliament to ‘business people who wish to develop stronger links with China and the Asia Pacific’”.

Concerns were also raised over Mr Maguire’s connection with the sale and/or development of land in NSW, in which he arranged to be paid a commission to introduce associates to government officials, to encourage the projects.

The ICAC investigation into former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire was released on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Brendan Read

The ICAC also referred Mr Maguire to the DPP on six counts, including instances of “misconduct in public office” in relation to his dealings with an alleged cash-for-visa scheme with G8wayInternational, United World Enterprises (UWE), and as a member of the NSW Parliament Asia Pacific Friendship Group.

It also recommended potential charges be made on the basis Mr Maguire deleted his own emails and helped the destruction of other records.

Although Ms Berejiklian was found to have also engaged in “serious corrupt conduct,” it did not substantiate criminal proceedings, the report said.

ICAC did however state Ms Berejiklian committed a “grave” breach of the ministerial code by not disclosing her “close personal relationship” with Mr Maguire, which the report unanimously states was a “conflict of interest” that prevented her from balancing her public duties with her private interest.

Of particular concern was the approval of two grants for the electorate of Wagga Wagga, including a $5.5m grant to the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA), and a $10m grant for the renovation of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music (RCM).

She also failed in her ministerial duties by not reporting her suspicion that Mr Maguire had engaged, or might have engaged in corrupt conduct.

While the ICAC report found former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct, however they did not recommend the DPP engage in criminal proceedings. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

Separate to the investigation, Mr Maguire has since been charged with criminal conspiracy over allegations of visa and migrant fraud between January 2013 and August 2015, while he was in office.

The Australian Border Force allege he conspired with migration agent Maggie Sining Logan, who also faces multiple charges of causing the delivery of documents with a false statement.

Mr Maguire has not made any plea in relation to the charges and the matter remains before the courts.

On Monday, before the Operation Keppel report was released, Mr Maguire was hit with charges of giving false and misleading evidence to ICAC, while testifying at Operation Dasha in 2018.

Daryl Maguire photographed arriving at an ICAC hearing in October 2020. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Launched in 2020, the anti-corruption investigation examined the conduct of former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire, and whether he breached public trust and used his public office for personal gain between 2012 to 2018.

In 2021 it was extended to also include Ms Berejiklian and whether she breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct by failing to disclose her “close personal relationship” with Mr Maguire. It also investigated whether she breached public trust as a result of their relationship between 2015 to 2020.

The former Wagga Wagga MP was ousted from parliament in 2018 after allegations of corruption came the for during his participation in a former ICAC probe, Operation Dasha.