Dutton says Berejiklian ‘integrity not in question’

Peter Dutton has come out in support of former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian, who was found to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has come out in support of former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Peter Dutton has come out in support of former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian, who was found to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct in the course of her secret relationship with former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire.

The federal Opposition Leader said on Friday the ex-premier was “not a corrupt person”, despite the NSW anti-corruption commission’s findings she repeatedly breached public trust and concealed the ­activities of Mr ­Maguire to maintain her relationship with him.

His comments follow unanimous public support from NSW and federal Liberals for Ms Berejiklian since the ICAC report was released.

Gladys Berejiklian with Daryl Maguire.

“In Gladys, I know somebody who is absolutely a wonderful person,” Mr Dutton told the Nine Network.

“She’s first class, and what you see in public is what you get in private as well … Her integrity is not in question. She’s not a corrupt person, that’s not the person that I know.”

Mr Dutton reduced the corrupt conduct findings to one “bad relationship”.

“I think she should hold her head high. She had a bad relationship, as everybody does, and I hope that is not a defining moment for her,” he said.

Leading NSW Liberal moderate Matt Kean also boiled the corruption findings down to “dating a weirdo”.

“The process … has basically told us that Gladys Berejiklian did not break the law,” he told Sky News. “She did not gain anything financially from her relationship with Daryl, and basically – she was dating a weirdo.”

Mr Kean said corruption without criminality was rare for ICAC. “This is the first ICAC inquiry I’ve known of where someone has been charged with corruption but not referred off to the DPP for criminal charges.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stayed out of the debate, saying it was a matter for NSW, while NSW Premier Chris Minns again declined to criticise Ms Berejiklian.

Mr Minns said on Friday he wasn’t prepared to “make that claim” – found in ICAC’s report – that she acted corruptly. He also said she didn’t need to offer the state an apology.

“It’s not for me to pass judgment about findings made by independent organisations or investigatory bodies like the ICAC.”