NSW ICAC turmoil: Voters floored by the company Mr Can-Do kept

There had been speculation in Daryl Maguire’s country electorate for years that he was ‘keeping a secret partner in ­Sydney’.

Former NSW MP Daryl Maguire.

There had been speculation in Daryl Maguire’s country electorate for years that he was “keeping a secret partner in ­Sydney” before he was forced to quit his seat in the midst of allegations of serious misconduct and corruption.

But no one in the town of Wagga ever suspected his “friend” was his party leader and the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian.

Locals said they had ­always marvelled at their MP’s ability to gain the ear of the Premier. The details of their relationship were finally laid bare by Ms Berejiklian under questions at an Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in Sydney on Monday into allegations Mr Maguire had misused his position for financial gain by brokering deals for a Chinese property developer and running a fake visa scheme.

The relationship began after the 2015 NSW state election and continued even after he was forced to quit his seat in 2018 after becoming the target of the ICAC probe.

The pair had remained in close contact until August when Ms ­Berejiklian appeared at a private ICAC hearing and decided to cut all contact. She denied the relationship had ever resulted in any conflict of interest and she has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Despite the serious allegations against him, Mr Maguire retains much support in his hometown.

Riverina Conservatorium of Music chair Andrew Wallace said Mr Maguire had proved crucial in securing a total of $30m in state funding to purchase a site and construct a “world-class” conservatorium after he took Ms Berejiklian on a tour of the area.

The tour was conducted on February 10, 2017 — a month after Dr Wallace submitted “an unsolicited proposal” to the NSW government.

“I went down to see Daryl Maguire and I said, ‘I’ve got a problem and that means you’ve got a bigger one,” he told The Australian. “He was really good and supportive of the project. I’m not a Liberal supporter but I was immediately impressed with him.”

He said the group had been pushing for funding since 2014 after learning Charles Sturt University, which owned its existing premises, was selling the site.

“The bottom line came down to the fact Daryl Maguire managed to get the Premier to come and to inspect our proposed site,” he said. “It was straight after she inspected the site that the senior government bureaucrats got ­involved to see if it was definitely a goer or not.”

Wagga Mayor Greg Conkey, an independent, said he was equally impressed by Mr Maguire’s ability to secure funding.

“He was the key to getting a lot of projects through — from the new $434m base hospital, which we’re still in the process of completing, to also getting a new police station and new courthouse. I know he lobbied hard for that,” he said. “The community is just astounded by the revelations that have come out.”

While Mr Maguire loomed large in the country, in the city he had a quieter stature.

Although he served as the Liberal Party whip for seven years in opposition before continuing the role for a further two years, he was not a particularly prominent or high-profile member.

A member of the left faction, he was considered a faithful disciple for former premier Barry O’Farrell.

His low-profile has been attributed in part for his ability to maintain his clandestine relationship with Ms Berejiklian.