Ex-MP Daryl Maguire ‘got envelopes of cash for visa scheme’

Former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire accepted envelopes containing $15,000 several times — allegedly payment for an illegal ‘cash for visa’ scheme, a corruption inquiry has heard.

Former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire. Picture: AAP

Former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire accepted envelopes containing $15,000 in his parliamentary office on several occasions — allegedly payment for an illegal “cash for visa” scheme he ran with his business associate, a corruption inquiry has heard.

Mr Maguire’s alleged offsider Maggie Wang told a NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing that a $20,000 fee was paid to G8way­international, Mr Maguire’s company, for finding businesses that would sign falsified visa documents claiming Chinese national visa applicants worked for their company.

ICAC is investigating Mr Maguire, who resigned after the allegations surfaced ahead of the 2018 state election, over claims he misused his parliamentary position to pursue his and his business associates’ financial interests.

Under questioning from counsel assisting the inquiry, Scott Robertson, Ms Wang told the hearing she delivered envelopes containing $15,000 worth of cash to Mr Maguire on several occasions — either to his NSW parliamentary office or when meeting him in cafes around Martin Place.

When asked why Mr Maguire received such a substantial cut, Ms Wang said getting businesses to commit to the scheme was the “most difficult part of the operation”, but she was unable to recall the number of times she visited Mr Maguire in his Macquarie Street office.

“I can’t recall. Because when I get 20 grand in my bag, and when I have to go through that security, you know, X-rays scan, I was a bit uncomfortable, and a bit nervous, because I thought the security guy can see inside,” Ms Wang told the hearing.

Targeting “affluent families”, Ms Wang said she used a database created by a business associate to find aspiring visa applicants who had the financial means of paying the $50,000 “placement fee” — their fee for G8wayinternational finding businesses that wouldn’t require them to turn up for work.

Businesses that took part in the scheme received a $30,000 “training fee”.

Several Riverina businessmen have told the corruption inquiry they received tens of thousands of dollars from Ms Wang for agreeing to take part in the “cash for visa” scheme. The employers were mostly told the visa applicant wouldn’t turn up for work.

In an email from 2012 tendered as evidence, Ms Wang told Mr Maguire her friend in China wanted to “buy a lot of nickel” and asked whether he could “mention it” to the Turkish consul-general.

“Are you saying you understood that because of Mr Maguire’s office, he would be able to have access to the consul-­general?” Mr Robertson asked.

“Yes,” Ms Wang said.

On Tuesday, Wagga Wagga winemaker Gerry McCormick reappeared via video-link to say he had intentionally neglected to mention two cash payments he received from Ms Wang worth $30,000. “I needed to set the rec­ord straight,” he said.