ICAC warms up for Gladys Berejiklian grilling

The NSW corruption watchdog will this week begin one of the most anticipated hearings in its history.

ICAC is investigating whether Gladys Berejiklian allowed or encouraged her former boyfriend Daryl Maguire to engage in corrupt activity. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The NSW corruption watchdog will this week begin one of the most anticipated hearings in its history, although the subject of its inquiry – former premier Gladys Berejiklian – is not expected to appear until next week.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating whether Ms Berejiklian allowed or encouraged her former boyfriend, disgraced MP Daryl Maguire, to engage in corrupt ­activity as well as whether she misused her public office.

The inquiry, expected to last 10 days, will focus on two state government grants, one of $5.5m to the Australian Clay Target Association in 2016-17 and another of $20m to the Riverina Conser­vatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga in 2018.

ICAC is investigating whether Ms Berejiklian was involved in a breach of public trust by “exercising public functions in circumstances where she was in a position of conflict between her public duties and private interest as a person” because of her secret relationship with Mr Maguire.

The first witness on Monday will be Michael Toohey, director at the Office of Sport, followed on Tuesday by Paul Doorn, now Rugby NSW boss but previously executive director of sport and recreation within the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Former premier Mike Baird, a member of the government’s expenditure review committee when Mr Maguire first applied for the clay shooting grant, and Mr Baird’s former chief of staff Nigel Blunden appear on Wednesday.

Deputy NSW Liberal leader Stuart Ayres, sports minister at the relevant time, will give evidence on Friday.

The announcement on Oct­over 1 by ICAC that Ms Berejiklian had become an investigative target led to her resignation as premier and the announcement of her exit from parliament.

Counsel assisting in ICAC’s ­probe will be barrister Scott Robertson, who was questioning Ms Berejiklian on the witness stand last year when she revealed she had been in a “close personal relationship” with Mr Maguire that had ended a month before.

In December, it was alleged Ms Berejiklian had overseen the $5.5m in funding for the clay target club. An attempt by Mr Maguire to secure the grant in 2016 failed, but documents ­obtained by parliament show an attempt the following year was successful.