ICAC turmoil: Daryl Maguire ‘lobbied federal MPs for favours’

Department of Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo believes former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire made representations to federal MPs for favourable treatment for clients.

Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo. Picture: AAP

Department of Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo believes former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire made representations to federal MPs for favourable treatment for clients under his “cash for visas” scheme.

Mr Pezzullo confirmed in Senate estimates on Monday morning that his department was investigating Mr Maguire’s business that had been run out of his parliamentary office, a fraudulent venture that saw him receive tens of thousands of dollars in “success fees” by lying to immigration officials.

The federal investigation is running in parallel with the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption hearings.

Mr Pezzullo said the department could pursue civil or criminal proceedings against people involved in the scheme if they were found to have breached federal laws. He also conceded it was likely Mr Maguire lobbied federal MPs and the department for favourable treatment of his clients.

“As is the case with federal and state and territory members, occasionally representations are made directly to the department, either through direct reference to me or officers in the department or by way of federal members of parliament,” Mr Pezzullo said.

“I believe that to be the case and I have asked for further particulars to be established in that regard.”

In ICAC hearings last week, Mr Maguire admitted that he had ­accepted cash drop-offs of up to $20,000 for the company’s work organising visas for Chinese ­nationals.

Applicants would pay a fee upfront to Mr Maguire’s company, which would then find a business to sign forms taking them on as a worker.

That money would then be returned to the applicant as wages, without them having to take part in any work.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian insisted on Monday that after “thousands” of conversations, she had no inkling of her former partner’s alleged breaches in conduct.

“From a compassionate human perspective, I thought I’ve known this guy for 15 years, he’s telling me he’s lost all of his friends and whatever else and that he was in a dark place, and from a compassionate perspective I didn’t think I could just not continue to be his friend,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Also in Senate estimates, Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram said Victorian health authorities raised no objections when they were told last week that New Zealanders ­arriving in Sydney as part of the travel bubble arrangements would be able to enter Victoria.

Mr Outram said there were no objections offered at a meeting last Friday from Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.

“There was a meeting last Friday at Melbourne airport at 2pm, convened by (the Department of Health and Human Services),” Mr Outram said at Monday’s hearing.

“This movement of passengers from NSW to Victoria was discussed. So, clearly at an operational level, the Victorian ser­vices recognised what was happening.

“And no objections were raised.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has criticised the federal government after 17 New Zealanders used the travel bubble to fly to Sydney, where they proceeded to travel to Melbourne.

There are no hard border closures on entering Victoria.

On Victoria’s hotel quarantine program, Mr Pezzullo said it would “appear” from the department’s emails that Victorian health officials in March were aware that the ­Andrews government would use private contractors as security.