Daryl Maguire ‘had key to Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s home’

Gladys Berejiklian allegedly gave a house key to Daryl Maguire, the NSW parliament has heard.

Former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Gladys Berejiklian allegedly gave a house key to Daryl Maguire while in a secret relationship with the former Liberal MP, allowing him to have access to her property for “many years”, the NSW parliament has heard.

The existence of a key raises questions about the NSW Premier’s insistence that the relationship, which is now part of a corruption inquiry, was not of “sufficient status” to disclose to authorities as required under the ministerial code of conduct.

Separately, sources told The Australian that Ms Berejiklian’s dignitary protection staff — who accompany her around the clock for her safety — were “fully aware” of the relationship.

Questions about whether Ms Berejiklian had given Mr Mag­uire a key to her home were raised by Labor leader Jodi McKay and One Nation leader Mark Latham in parliament on Thursday. The Coalition will try to refer both Ms McKay and Mr Latham to a parliamentary committee, which could order them to explain the source of that information.

Asked earlier on Thursday whether Mr Maguire ever stayed with her and claimed a travel ­allowance while she was in ­Sydney, Ms Berejiklian said: “No, look — everything I have done has been absolutely above board on every level since I have been in public office.”

Ms Berejiklian’s office did not respond to separate questions from The Australian about whether Mr Maguire had been given a key to her home on Sydney’s north shore.

The status of the relationship between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire is a central issue in the ICAC scandal. The NSW ministerial code of conduct states that a minister must disclose potential conflicts that involve a “family member” — a definition that includes “any person with whom the minister is in an intimate personal relationship”.

Mr Maguire raised his business dealings with Ms Berejiklian, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has heard, ­although he tried to shield her from the full extent of his financial impropriety during their years-long relationship because he knew the specifics would “cause her difficulties”.

Ms Berejiklian has not been accused of wrongdoing.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian in question time on Thursday. Picture: James Gourley

Mr Maguire used his parliamentary office to run a cash-for-visas scheme and lobby MPs, including Ms Berejiklian, on ­behalf of developers from whom he stood to make money.

Mr Latham, in the Upper House, said Mr Maguire had come and gone from Ms Berejiklian’s premises as recently as September, suggesting a disclosable relationship.

“Given that Daryl Maguire had a key to the Premier’s north shore home for many years, and while cohabitating came and went as he liked as recently as last month, doesn’t this demonstrate an intimate personal relationship and the Premier’s failure under the ministerial code of conduct to declare all of Daryl Maguire’s business interests?” Mr Latham asked.

Ms McKay asked a similar question in the Lower House, prompting Speaker Jonathan O’Dea to intervene and suggest the matter could conflict with suppression orders at the ICAC.

“Today, and in the last little while, I’ve heard and read things which are practically factually incorrect, and I’ve chosen not to respond because there’s a process in place,” the Premier said in response.

“If we have faith in the process, as I do, let the integrity agency do its work.”

Ms Berejiklian’s office did not respond to questions about which aspects were incorrect.

The claims come after a week of conflicting accounts given by Ms Berejiklian about her relationship. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, she said she loved Mr Maguire and had considered the prospect of marriage. Then the following day she told 2GB radio that “he wasn’t anything of note” and Mr Mag­uire “wasn’t my boyfriend”.

Ms Berejiklian has previously said that, while her relationship with Mr Maguire was “close” and “personal”, it fell short of being what she considered “intimate”.

“Irrespective of how I felt, we led completely separate lives,” she said.

While in a relationship with Mr Maguire, Ms Berejiklian visited his electorate on a number of occasions, including in August 2018 when she inspected the $400m Wagga Wagga Base Hospital redevelopment. Mr Maguire resigned from parliament two days later.

Later on Thursday, NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said Ms McKay and Mr Latham had teamed up “in a desperate way (to) smear the Premier under (parliamentary) privilege”.

“They now need, in both instances, both Mr Latham and Ms McKay to clearly outline the source of their statements,” Mr Constance said.