Daryl Maguire ‘lobbied federal MPs’ on cash for visas scheme

The Home Affairs secretary believes Daryl Maguire sought favourable treatment for his ‘cash for visas’ scheme.

Daryl Maguire outside ICAC on Friday. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Department of Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo says he believes disgraced former NSW MP Daryl Maguire made representations to the department and federal MPs for favourable treatment for his clients under his “cash for visas” scheme.

Mr Pezzullo confirmed in Senate estimates on Monday morning his department was investigating Mr Maguire’s business that was run out of his parliamentary office, a venture that saw him receive tens of thousands of dollars in “success fees” by lying to immigration officials.

The investigation is running in parallel to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption hearings.

Michael Pezzullo, Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr Pezzullo said the department could pursue civil or criminal proceedings against people involved in the scheme if they were found to have breached federal laws.

He also conceded it was likely Mr Maguire lobbied federal MPs and the department for the favourable treatment of his clients.

“As is the case with federal and state and territory members, occasionally representations are made directly to the department, either through direct reference to me or officers in the department or by way of federal members of parliament,” Mr Pezzullo said.

“I believe that to be the case and I have asked for further particulars to be established in that regard.”

In ICAC hearings last week, Mr Maguire admitted he accepted cash drop-offs of up to $20,000 for its work organising visas for Chinese nationals.

The applicants would pay a fee upfront to Mr Maguire’s company, which would then find a business to sign forms taking them on as a worker.

That money would then be returned to the applicant as wages, without them having to take part in any work.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks to the media on Friday. Picture: James Gourley

Premier ‘didn’t know anything’ of alleged breaches

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has insisted that after “thousands” of conversations, she had no inkling of former partner’s alleged breaches in conduct.

Speaking to 2GBs Ben Fordham, Ms Berejiklian said she trusted Daryl Maguire and did not think it right to stop being his friend.

“From a compassionate human perspective, I thought I’ve known this guy for 15 years, he’s telling me he’s lost all of his friends and whatever else and that he was in a dark place, and from a compassionate perspective I didn’t think I could just not continue to be his friend,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Asked whether Mr Maguire thought he and Ms Berejiklian were still together up until a few months ago, she said: “Yeah, he would have been under the impression that something would have happened.”

Mr Fordham then pressed the Premier on why she did not approach ICAC in 2018 when Mr Maguire was first stood down over corruption claims.

“Well it’s fair to say that I always made sure that I would assist them in any way possible, but I didn’t know anything to be able to tell,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“I also had confidence in the process. They would have known all of that and they would have come to me if they needed anything, in which they did at an appropriate time.

“When you personally know someone and you’re personally close to them it doesn’t necessarily mean if you know anything. From what I knew, that was a different investigation … so I didn’t even think it was relevant for me at all. It wasn’t about him, it was about something else.”