NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian grilled over ex-partner Daryl Maguire

Gladys Berejiklian has been blasted for failing ‘to give a straight answer’, after a budget estimates hearing took a turn.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is grilled in budget estimates on Thursday about her former lover, who is under investigation for corruption. Picture: NCA NewsWire/James Gourley

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been blasted for failing “to give a straight answer”, after a heated budget estimates hearing struck at the heart of the scandals facing her government.

Confronted with a gruelling interrogation across three hours, Ms Berejiklian repeatedly rebuffed inquiries about her knowledge of former partner Daryl Maguire’s business dealings, funding for the Independent Commission Against Corruption, and document shredding.

While pursuing the Premier over whether she knew about the former Wagga Wagga MP’s overseas trips, One Nation leader Mark Latham pressed Ms Berejiklian about her knowledge of Mr Maguire’s dealings.

“You had no suspicion of any other corrupt conduct by Mr Maguire that would have been relevant in reporting to ICAC?,” Mr Latham asked.

“As I said, Mr Latham, those matters have already been canvassed at length,” Ms Berejiklian replied, before she later snapped, saying to him: “Can I say I find your obsession with my failed ­private relationship rather bizarre and disconcerting.”

When asked how Chinese developer Country Garden — a business with links to Mr Maguire — managed to get hold of a detailed map in the NSW government’s draft Future Transport 2056 strategy, Ms Berejiklian said she had “absolutely no idea” how it happened.

“I have nothing to add and no knowledge of the matters you raise,” she said.

She also had “no recollection” of when she became aware Mr Maguire had connections to Country Garden. The detailed map of the future M9 motorway obtained by the company showed the road passing close to Country Garden’s recently purchased property on Cawdor Road.

Ms Berejiklian also declined to answer questions about why Mr Maguire attended a meeting with her, when she was NSW treasurer, about the Cobb Highway in 2016 — a highway that was more than 100km away from Mr Maguire’s electorate, but within walking distance of his newly ­acquired investment property.

After buying the Ivanhoe property, Mr Maguire reportedly told his then partner he was considering using it as an Airbnb.

When asked about the property by Labor Legislative Council member Adam Searle, Ms Berejiklian said she “cannot confirm” that she knew anything about the Ivanhoe property. “You’re reading something that is in the possession of the integrity agency; with all due respect you are not the integrity agency,” she said.

After Mr Searle suggested that the decision to fund the project was made to “benefit your boyfriend”, Ms Berejiklian said the accusation was “laughable and wrong and frankly offensive”.

When the questions turned to contradictory statements she made on Wednesday about whether former Liberal minister John Sidoti resigned or was asked to resign, she declined to answer.

“At the end of the day, the outcome is what’s important. He has resigned from the ministry and subsequently moved to the crossbench,” she said.

In a joint press conference, Mr Searle accused the Premier of “obfuscating”, saying rather than being upfront she “failed to be truthful”, as she continually refused to answer why she didn’t tell ICAC about her relationship with the scandal-ridden former MP.

“Gladys Berejiklian has spent all morning not being able to ­answer very basic questions about activities of her scandalous government,” Deputy Labor Leader Yasmin Catley said. “She has not been truthful and she has not been honest. In fact, she has been evasive and tried to be tricky. “

After a day of dodging and weaving, the Premier was asked if she had any questions of her own for the estimates committee. “I have a pandemic and a few other things to worry about,” she said.