ICAC turmoil: Further indignity awaits NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian

Gladys Berejiklian’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy regarding Daryl Maguire’s dodgy business dealings might not be enough to save her from political humiliation.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian in Sydney on Monday. Picture: Steven Saphore

Gladys Berejiklian’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding former beau Daryl Maguire’s dodgy business dealings might not be enough to save her from political humiliation when the Independent Commission Against Corruption makes its final recommendations.

While the NSW Premier has so far resisted calls from some quarters to resign following revelations she maintained a clandestine, five-year romance with the former Wagga Wagga MP, anti-corruption advocates say the relationship could still prove terminal for her tenure in public office.

AJ Brown, a professor of public policy and law at Griffith University and board member of anti-corruption NGO Transparency International Australia, said after airing the Premier’s dirty laundry in public hearings, the ICAC was obligated to offer its official opinion of Ms Berejiklian’s judgment regarding Mr Maguire. “Given what we have learned in the past week, the public is entitled to know whether or not the ICAC considers her behaviour appropriate,” he said.

“Based on the evidence on the public record, you would think that any fair-minded person would have to say her judgment has been severely impaired by her personal relationship.

“If it deems that it is acceptable for a premier to be in a relationship with a person who is engaged in activities such as those conducted by Daryl Maguire and that it’s OK as long as they don’t ask any questions and ask not to be told any details, that sends a message to every businessman and every politician about what the acceptable standards of integrity are in NSW.”

ICAC would not be drawn on whether its final report would comprise an official view on Ms Berejiklian’s handling of her relationship with Mr Maguire.

“The commission does not comment in advance on the content of its investigation reports, including what may or may not be canvassed,” a spokesperson said.

Ms Berejiklian last week endured the most turbulent period of her political career after revealing the secret relationship under questioning at the ICAC in Sydney.

She told the commission she had started seeing Mr Maguire around the time of the NSW state election in March 2015 and that she continued the relationship even when her boyfriend was forced to quit parliament in disgrace in July 2018 after admitting he had sought to personally profit from using his political clout to help broker deals for property developers.

The romance came to an abrupt end in August after Ms Bere­jiklian gave evidence at a private ICAC hearing and severed all ties with Mr Maguire.

The Premier has rejected suggestions that the relationship caused any conflict of interest.