Chinese business deals exposed in disgraced MP Daryl Maguire inquiry

Disgraced former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire attempted to use his influence to strike deals with South Pacific countries on behalf of a Chinese business group, an inquiry has heard.

Former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire. Picture: AAP

Disgraced former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire attempted to use his influence as chairman of the Asia Pacific Friendship Group to strike commercial deals with South Pacific countries on behalf of a Chinese business group, a ­corruption inquiry has heard.

The sixth day of hearings at the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption outlined how Mr Maguire used his parliamentary position to explore commercial opportunities for the Shenzen Asia Pacific Commercial Development Association — a non-­government organisation with “rich enterprise and business ­resources in China”.

ICAC is investigating Mr Maguire — who resigned after allegations he brokered a deal with a Chinese property company surfaced ahead of the 2018 NSW election — over claims he misused his parliamentary position to pursue his and his business associates’ ­financial interests.

In one exhibit, more than 200 pages of tendered evidence illustrated how Mr Maguire allegedly used his role as chairman of the APFG to further commercial projects for SAPCDA — an organisation in which he was the “honorary chairman” — including reaching “verbal agreements” with Samoa, Vanuatu and Fiji.

During one meeting at Parliament House organised by Mr ­Maguire in July 2016 — which included the Consul-General of Papua New Guinea, Sumasy Singin, and Gordon Tse, a close business associate of the former Wagga Wagga MP — Mr Maguire discussed how SAPCDA could explore “local business ­opportunities” in PNG.

“In the past three months, through the NSW parliament Asia Pacific Friendship Group, I contacted many countries and did a lot of work, which achieved key development. At the moment, seven countries have largely confirmed their intention of strategic co-operation,” Mr Maguire told the meeting.

“I was selective in choosing the countries to establish intention of co-operation with SAPCDA. In the countries selected, apart from Solomon Islands and Kiribati, which have not established diplomatic relations with China, the other five countries all have political and economic relationships with China.”

The evidence was presented in lieu of Mr Tse, who was unable to attend the hearing for legal reasons, counsel assisting the inquiry, Scott Robertson, said.

In response, Mr Singin said Mr Maguire had already spoken to him regarding the opportunities for SAPCDA, which included “large hotel investment projects” worth between $10m and $20m, along with a rapidly developing economy which had “great potential” for co-operation with China.

“The rich resources in Papua New Guinea create significant ­opportunities to work with China,” Mr Singin said.

The inquiry continues.