BREAKING NEWS: Gladys Berejiklian arrives at the ICAC for another day of grilling in corruption probe ‘over’ Daryl Maguire secret love affair
- ‘If you were able to have your time again would you disclose your relationship?’
- Ms Berejiklian on Mr Maguire – ‘I didn’t feel there was a sufficient significance’
- ‘Are you having some difficulty understanding my questions’ – ICAC counsel
Gladys Berejiklian has arrived at the ICAC building in Sydney to continue giving evidence to a corruption inquiry into her.
The former NSW premier started her testimony last Friday, but there was so much to get through its completion was held over until Monday.
She will be question by Scott Robertson, SC, counsel assisting the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured left) arrives at the Independent Commission Against Corruption on November 1 with one of her barristers, Sophie Callan (pictured right)
Gladys Berejiklian is seen on Sydney’s north shore before her ICAC hearing on Monday
Opening proceedings on Friday, ICAC counsel assisting Scott Robertson began with a killer question about her secret lover, Daryl Maguire.
‘If you were able to have your time again would you disclose your close personal relationship with Mr Maguire?’ Mr Robertson asked.
Ms Berejiklian responded she didn’t feel it was a commitment she could share with her parents, Arsha and Krikor, or her sisters.
‘I didn’t feel there was a sufficient significance to be able to do that in terms of significance.’
Ms Berejiklian said that she did not ask Mr Maguire for the key to her house that she had given to him back.
ICAC counsel Scott Robertson (pictured left) is questioning former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (right) at ICAC on Monday
Mr Robertson asked Ms Berejiklian why she supported a multimillion-dollar proposal for the state government to pay for an upgrade of the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA) gun club when Treasury said the submission did not demonstrate a net benefit to the state.
ACTA is based in Wagga Wagga and the project was strongly supported by her then secret boyfriend Mr Maguire.
At the time of the proposal in December 2016 Ms Berejiklian was NSW treasurer and chair of the government’s expenditure review committee (ERC).
‘The bush was on fire in terms of their attitude to the government,’ Ms Berejiklian said. ‘We’d just lost a seat to the Shooters Party.’
Daryl Maguire (pictured) gave evidence to ICAC last Thursday
Her view was that supporting the gun club proposal project would have ‘kept a portion of the community pleased’ and the government was keen to show it wasn’t ignoring the bush.
Asked if her support for the proposal could have been influenced by her relationship with Mr Maguire, Ms Berejiklian said: ‘It could have been part of the consideration but the … strongest consideration was the consequence of the Orange by-election.’
In a testy exchange that set the tone for the day on Friday, Mr Robertson asked Ms Berejiklian about her understanding of the proceedings.
‘Are you having some difficulty with my questions? I am trying to frame them in a precise way as well so you can answer them yes or no.
Gladys Berejiklian began giving evidence to ICAC on Friday
‘Are you having some difficulty understanding my questions,’ he asked.
Ms Berejiklian replied: ‘Mr Robertson, I’m just concerned that you are skewing the fact that all of my colleagues rightfully deserve my attention and my advocacy and my support for things that mattered in their communities.’
‘Skewing or not, you understand that your role as a witness is to direct yourself to the questions that are being asked, you understand that?’ Mr Robertson responded.
‘Yes, I do,’ she replied.
‘You have senior counsel to represent you who have an opportunity to ask for clarification. You understand that, don’t you?’
‘I do, yes.’
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