NSW ICAC told of attempt to destroy evidence

Former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire wanted another term in parliament because his deal with a property developer had fallen over, a corruption inquiry has heard.

Former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire.

Former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire wanted another term in parliament because his deal with a property developer had fallen over and he had to pay his former wife a $1m divorce settlement, a corruption inquiry has heard.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating the former Wagga Wagga MP over allegations he misused his position in parliament in pursuit of his own financial interests and those of his business associates.

The inquiry also heard alle­gations that Mr Maguire, who resigned from parliament ahead of the March 2018 state election, had asked his business associates to destroy incrimination evidence after earlier appearing at an ICAC hearing.

Intercepted phone calls between Mr Maguire and former business associate Phillip Elliott showed a frantic attempt at broking new property deals to finance growing debt.

In the 2018 call to Mr Elliott, the official director and face of G8wayinternational, Mr Maguire said his divorce settlement meant he was likely to seek re-election. “At this point in time, this point in time, I think I‘m gonna have to go again,” he said.

“Sadly, I think I’m gonna have to go again, (property developer) Country Garden has fallen over, Jimmy is busy doing other stuff, I‘ve got a sick son-in-law I probably have to kick in for … that’s how it’s looking at the moment.”

Mr Elliott also told the inquiry: “I deleted or tried to delete emails or spreadsheets. That’s what I was asked to do, so I tried.”

Counsel assisting the inquiry, Scott Robertson, suggested Mr Elliott had deleted the files “with the view of deflecting this commission from evidence that might implicate Mr Maguire”.

“And from deflecting the commission from any evidence that might implicate you,” he said.

“And to deflect this commission from finding out the truth,” Commissioner Ruth McColl added.

The ICAC is expected to call several senior NSW government figures, including Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s former chief of staff Sarah Cruikshank and Liberal MP Mark Coure.

It is unclear why they are being called, and neither is the subject of any allegations of wrongdoing.

Ms Cruikshank is now a senior official with the Department of Premier and Cabinet after leaving the Premier’s office.

Mr Maguire’s former adviser, Nicole Hatton, was asked on Tuesday how his office conducted G8wayinternational tasks, including booking flights for business associates.

“Turning Parliament House into a travel agency,” Ms McColl remarked.

The inquiry had previously heard that Mr Maguire’s former adviser Zack Bentley, who later went on to work for Ms Berejik­lian, had in 2013 provided assistance with visa applications for G8wayinternational.

Mr Maguire resigned from the Liberal Party in 2018 after ICAC played recordings of his conversations, and the former parliamentary secretary admitted he was trying to earn money by setting up developers with investors.

He had refused to resign from parliament before the March 2019 election but relented; the Liberal Party subsequently lost Wagga Wagga to independent Joe McGirr.