A former state Liberal politician has denied being part of a conspiracy to fraudulently bring Chinese nationals into Australia, saying he merely helped businesses looking for foreign workers.
Daryl Maguire, 67, has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to create false and misleading visa applications for 10 Chinese nationals purporting to employ them at businesses in Wagga Wagga in the NSW Riverina region.
Prosecutors allege the visa fraud conspiracy took place from January 2013 to August 2015 and involved the regional MP's associate Maggie Wang - also known as Maggie Logan - and migration agent Monica Hao.