Daryl Maguire and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Maguire,a long-term Liberal MP and party whip,quit Parliament in 2018 after it was revealed he tried to broker property deals and seek commission on behalf of a Chinese developer.
His exit forced a disastrous byelection in the once-safe Liberal seat of Wagga Wagga,which the government lost to an independent. But still Berejiklian stood by him.
The corruption watchdog heard on MondayBerejiklian was in a relationship with Maguire for five years,from just after the 2015 election until only a few months ago. Again,no one’s business except for the fact that her former partner faces possible criminal charges.
Berejiklian’s appearance before ICAC on Monday made for uncomfortable viewing as phone intercepts were played where Maguire spoke at length to her about his personal finances,as well as his development hopes for land around the Badgerys Creek airport.
She described his plans repeatedly to the hearing as “fanciful” and “pie in the sky” dreams,but nonetheless Berejiklian was a constant sounding board for Maguire.