‘No favours’ for Barnaby Joyce rent gift, says Greg Maguire

The multi-businessman who gave Barnaby Joyce six months free in an Armidale townhouse says he had ‘nowhere else to go’.

Tamworth businessman Greg Maguire in 2004

The multi-millionaire businessman who gave Barnaby Joyce six months’ free rent in an Armidale townhouse says he was not seeking political favour but made the offer because the Deputy Prime Minister had “nowhere else to go”.

But as Greg Maguire defended the $14,000 gift, an ethics expert said Mr Joyce had potentially serious problems in allowing a businessman to give him rent.

Mr Joyce also faces reports that he and his pregnant former staffer Vikki Campion holidayed for free last month at Mr Maguire’s $4000-a-week beachfront pad on the NSW north coast.

Mr Maguire said yesterday his gift was “about mateship”. He also confirmed he once had told Tony Windsor he could get an overseas posting if he felt like retiring as the member for New England.

Mr Maguire, who owns the 4½-star Quality Powerhouse Hotel in Tamworth, another in Armidale and pastoral interests, said Mr Joyce “had nowhere else to go” when he asked for a place to stay.

“It had nothing to do with political favours. I left school early and I’m an Australian — I look after my mates,” he said. “Mr and Mrs Joyce have been my friends for years ... if it was Natalie in that position I would have done the same.

“That’s what this story should be about: Australian mateship.”

Mr Maguire said he had nothing to gain from the arrangement.

He declared Mr Joyce had “done more than anybody” for the New England electorate. “If I can grow my city and grow my region, that’s good for my business and good for my community,” he said.

“Barnaby might not be pretty and he might not be an elegant speaker but he gets the job done. He has been unfairly treated. It’s no one’s business and it certainly isn’t mine — I just want him to get back to the job.”

Ethics expert Simon Longstaff said Mr Joyce should be applauded for having the “instinct” to offer to pay rent but he should have insisted on paying when offered the tenancy free.

Dr Longstaff, executive director of The Ethics Centre in Sydney, said a deputy prime minister ­allowing a private citizen to pay his rent was problematic, saying similar principles applied to former Labor senator Sam Dastyari having his bills paid by a businessman.

“At a private level, it is perfectly natural to call a friend, and ask to stay if you’ve been tossed out of your home,” he said. “But when you’re an elected member of the government, and you take on the responsibilities of Deputy Prime Minister, what you do as a person is complicated by your office.

“When you go into politics you are subject to standards higher than those applying to mates.”

According to reports today, Mr Joyce and Ms Campion holidayed at the Pacific Dawn Luxury Apartments at Wooli in northern NSW for about five days last month after a trip to Palm Cove in north Queensland. The apartment is owned by Vodata Pty Ltd, a company part-owned by Mr Maguire.

The Weekend Australian revealed the townhouse deal ­between Mr Joyce and Mr Maguire, who has long been involved in Tamworth regional politics.

In 2004, Mr Maguire, once a backer of Mr Windsor, convened a meeting with him and became ­embroiled in bribery allegations levelled by the former independent MP in parliament.

Mr Maguire was accused of acting on behalf of then deputy prime minister John Anderson when he offered Mr Windsor a plum overseas job in return for his joining the Nationals or quitting politics.

The matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police, who received advice from prosecutors that there was not enough evidence to lay charges.

Yesterday Mr Maguire said his comments in that meeting had become “inflamed”. “It was me telling Tony he was not doing a good job, I wasn’t there on behalf of anyone,” he said. “I was the person that said if he wanted to retire I’m sure he could have gotten a posting overseas. It got inflamed.”