ICAC: Daryl Maguire admits role in cash-for-visa scheme

The former MP who had a secret relationship with Gladys Berejiklian has dropped a bombshell at his ICAC hearing.

Former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire has admitted he accepted cash deliveries to his parliamentary office relating to a visa scheme for Chinese nationals.

The former lover of the NSW Premier has made a series of stunning admissions in front of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, agreeing he ran a private business from his parliamentary office, concealed his involvement in that firm, and promised clients access to high levels of government.

Mr Maguire appeared in front of ICAC on Wednesday, two days after Gladys Berejiklian sensationally revealed she had been in a close personal relationship with Mr Maguire for five years, starting in 2015.

Mr Maguire agreed on Wednesday he acted as a shadow director in a company that profited from selling access to the highest levels of the NSW Government.

Gladys Berejiklian has been under intense pressure since revealing on Monday she was in a years-long relationship with former MP Daryl Maguire. (Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

The company, G8way International, would charge a fee, sometimes as high as $20,000, for facilitating a scheme where a student would be put on the books of a Wagga business as a skilled worker for three months, the ICAC has heard.

Maggie Wang, a woman involved in the scheme who has previously faced ICAC, would pocket a quarter and deliver the remaining $15,000 to Mr Maguire’s office at Parliament in Sydney.

Quizzing Mr Maguire over his association with G8way International, the counsel assisting the inquiry, Scott Robertson, asked: “Do you agree that on more than one occasion, you received deliveries in your Parliament House office of thousands of dollars in cash associated with a scheme involving the obtaining of Australian visas for Chinese nationals?”

Mr Maguire replied: “Yes.”

Asked if he sought to avoid having those payments “on the books” to conceal his involvement in the company, Mr Maguire answered: “Yes.”

There was one aspect in particular where the former MP pushed back against Mr Robertson’s characterisation of the enterprise. Mr Maguire initially denied he was aware workers involved in the scheme weren’t actually expected to turn up to their place of employment.

Former MP Daryl Maguire made a series of stunning admissions in front of ICAC. (AAP Image/Erik Anderson)

But after a back-and-forth where Mr Maguire at one point said he was “misled”, Mr Robertson showed him an email he said made it clear Mr Maguire was aware the scheme was illegitimate.

“You weren’t misled by this email, in fact you were correctly led,” Mr Robertson told Mr Maguire.

Mr Maguire replied: “I agree.”

Mr Robertson: “The email is making clear to you that the scheme at this time involved lying to immigration officials.”

Mr Maguire: “Yes.”

Mr Robertson: “You knew it was not a legitimate immigration scheme.”

Mr Maguire: “On reflection, yes.”

Earlier in the hearing, Mr Maguire was asked whether he agreed part of G8way International’s business model was to sell access to Government’s highest levels.

The former MP responded: “Not initially.”

“But ultimately?” Mr Robertson asked.

“I think ultimately, yes,” Mr Maguire said.

Mr Robertson followed up: “Do you agree one of the things that Gateway International at least promoted was the suggestion that they had access to the highest levels of government?”

“At some point, yes.”

Daryl Maguire, top right corner, gave evidence before ICAC on Wednesday.

The Commission also heard G8way International sent an invoice to a Chinese delegation after they met with the former NSW premier, Barry O’Farrell, for a signing ceremony.

“There was a luncheon that was hosted, there was the preparation of signage and flowers and all the traditional things that needed to be provided for the signing ceremony ... There was a concern that those costs would not be paid and that I would be left with the account”, Mr Maguire said.

The admissions from Mr Maguire came after he was grilled, at the start of the hearing, on whether he understood his responsibilities under the Ministerial Code of Conduct.