The NSW corruption watchdog’s delayed report into the conduct of Gladys Berejiklian will soon be delivered, more than a year and a half after the former premier resigned while waiting for the findings.
The probe into Ms Berejiklian’s dealings began after the Independent Commission Against Corruption launched inquiries into the disgraced former Liberal MP for Wagga Wagga, Daryl Maguire.
The watchdog investigated whether Mr Maguire used his role as an MP to gain a financial benefit and whether Ms Berejiklian breached the public trust during their five-year secret personal relationship.
The ICAC said the final report would be delivered to the NSW parliament on June 29.
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The Operation Keppel report will be delivered to the parliament’s presiding officers at 9am and it will be available for public viewing if the officers make it public.
The commission revealed in January that the report would not be released before the March election as its findings concerned complex matters of law and the analysis of thousands of pages of exhibits, transcripts and submissions.
The report is scheduled to be delivered nearly 18 months after Ms Berejiklian’s resignation as premier in October 2021, and more than two and a half years after she first gave evidence about her secret romance with Mr Maguire.
The investigation hinges on whether Ms Berejiklian’s concealment of her relationship with Mr Maguire breached the public trust, whether she improperly handled projects pursued by Mr Maguire and if she engaged in conduct “liable to allow or encourage corruption” by him.
She has denied any wrongdoing, citing concerns about likely lengthy delays in ICAC delivering its report as a reason for her resignation.
While under questioning during public hearings, Ms Berejiklian revealed the pair had been in a long-term, clandestine relationship, describing Mr Maguire as part of her “love circle”.
An inquiry heard from senior public servants and MPs, many of whom said Ms Berejiklian should have disclosed her relationship to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
But Ms Berejiklian defended her decision to keep the relationship under wraps, saying it wasn’t of sufficient status, despite agreeing the pair loved each other, contemplated marriage and discussed having a child.
The inquiry also heard two grants at the centre of the probe did not face a competitive tender process and were at times opposed by senior public servants.
During Ms Berejiklian’s nine hours of evidence, she was played several intercepted phone calls with Mr Maguire.
In one, she could be heard saying she got “$170 million in five minutes” for a hospital in his electorate.
In other calls, Mr Maguire railed against ICAC and told Ms Berejiklian to get a second phone.
Ms Berejiklian said she had no clue Mr Maguire was doing anything untoward and he did not get any preferential treatment from her.
-AAP
