AS TWO of her senior ministers prepare to testify before ICAC, a national newspaper has suggested NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian herself may be under investigation by the corruption commissioner.
Deputy NSW Premier John Barilaro and Employment Minister Stuart Ayres have been summonsed to attend Independent Commission Against Corruption hearings this month, as the inquiry into the premier’s former boyfriend resumes.
- In the past, Ms Berejiklian and her staff have categorically rejected any notion that she may be a target of ICAC enquiries.
- Asked this week if she was under investigation, she said it was ‘a matter for the agency’ & ‘not appropriate to comment on that work’.
The two cabinet ministers have been given notice to front up to the hearings over alleged corrupt activities of former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire – involving a $5.5m community grant he obtained with the alleged assistance of then girlfriend Ms Berejiklian.
The Australian newspaper this week ran a front page article suggesting the focus of the ICAC investigation was shifting towards the premier.
CATEGORICALLY
“In the past, Ms Berejiklian and her staff have made a point of categorically rejecting any notion that she may be a target of ICAC enquiries,” the September 13 article stated.
“But a week ago this position appeared to shift.
“Asked if she was under investigation, Ms Berejiklian said it was ‘a matter for the agency. It would not be appropriate for anyone to comment on that work’.”
Sky News has also suggested the premier’s abrupt cancellation of all her daily COVID updates was to avoid being bombarded with questions over ICAC.
Messrs Barilaro, Ayers and Ms Berejiklian have not been accused of any wrongdoing.
In announcing her withdrawal from COVID press briefings the premier said she needed to have a clear head.
“I was very upfront and honest to say that while there would be ample information provided on a daily basis, I will not necessarily be the one providing the information on a daily basis, and that is because I need a clear head,” Ms Berejiklian said.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Ms Berejiklian did not declare her five-year relationship with Mr Maguire under the Ministerial Code of Conduct because she did not consider it of “sufficient status”.
She ended their relationship after being summonsed to appeared before ICAC as a witness late last year – where she was heard in telephone wire evidence to be side-stepping discussions with Mr Maguire over his alleged corrupt activities.
The last few minutes of a phone call between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire, recorded at 9.21pm on February 14, 2018, heard the premier attempt to distance herself from her boyfriend’s questionable “stuff”.
“The other thing that I am thinking right (is) that I … need you to process in your head what you want to do right but I also need to come to the realisation that it’s not got anything to do with me,” Ms Berejiklian told Mr Maguire during the call.
“I’m trying to support, support you not stress you.”
As the phone call was wrapping up, Ms Berejiklian told Mr Maguire: “You’ve got to think about your stuff and I’ve got to think about my stuff, that’s all.”
Mr Maguire responded: “Hmm, well I am working on that Gladys. I’m going to bed see ya later.”PC
Innocent until proven guilty.
The ICAC is not a court of law and cannot do more than investigate and if sufficient evidence of criminal behaviour is found then ICAC would refer the matter to the DPP to decide what action will be taken next.
Noting that Premier Nick Greiner successfully appealed an ICAC published decision in court and succeeded.
ICAC should be conducted in private and nothing released until a decision is made to refer a matter to the DPP. Ruining or damaging any person’s reputation by making allegations public knowledge is unfair, noting that all people are innocent until proven guilty.
If Premier Berejiklian’s 5-year relationship (5YEARS!) was not declared of “sufficient status” on her Parliamentary Register…why was Darryl McGuire seen entering her house with his own key?
None of our business, private life, innocent until proven guilty by a court of law, if referred by the DPP.
Glad the impaler reminds me of the titular head of the former Soviet union under PM Stalin. The Soviet union head of state under Stalin was also an Armenian. Palschook is also a post Soviet pole or Ukrainian. Get these communist power hungry SCUM away from our democracy
And from what elevated position do you pass your judgement from?
A mischief maker maybe?
Berejiklian’s heart must have fallen into her boot when she realised she was to be questioned. As they say, power…
Do you know something that ICAC has not yet discovered and therefore referred to a court of law?