Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is now giving evidence to a corruption inquiry. You can listen and follow live here, but in the meantime here’s a summary of this morning’s session.
Ms Berejiklian, in her first evidence in the witness box, told the Independent Commission Against Corruption probe she would still keep secret her five-year relationship with disgraced ex-MP Daryl Maguire if she had her time again.
Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian outside the ICAC this morning.Credit:Renee Nowytarger
“I didn’t feel it was of sufficient standard or sufficient significance in order to do that,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The threshold for me was, did I feel there was a commitment which I would be able to share with my parents or my sisters? And I didn’t feel that there was a sufficient significance in order to do that in terms of commitment.
“I regarded him as a part of my love circle…of people that I strongly cared for.”
The inquiry is focused on two multimillion-dollar grants issued to a gun club and a music conservatorium in Mr Maguire’s electorate while the pair were in a relationship and Ms Berejiklian was treasurer and later premier.
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The commission heard a series of intercepted phone call excerpts between Ms Berejiklian and Ms Maguire in which she assured him she would step in to ensure $170 million in funding for his electorate.
Mr Maguire said he had told then treasurer Dominic Perrottet he would have a “f–king riot on [his] hands” if projects like the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital and Tumut Hospital were not funded.
In another call hours later Ms Berejiklian said: “I’ve already got you the Wagga hospital. I just spoke to Dom [Perrottet]… he does what I ask him to.
“We’re giving Wagga more money than ever before,” Ms Berejiklian said. “I’ve now got you the one hundred and seventy mill in five minutes.”
Read more here.
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