NSW's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has been playing phone taps between former premier Gladys Berejiklian, and her secret boyfriend Daryl Maguire, who was also an MP.
The calls have shed light on what Ms Berejiklian could have known about her ex's dealings, and whether she breached public trust due to the undeclared relationship with the disgraced former Member for Wagga Wagga.
It's all part of a probe into Ms Berejiklian's conduct, which has already lasted two weeks and is going to extend into a third.
The former premier began giving evidence today and several phone taps have already been played.
Here are three the ICAC highlighted.
WARNING: The recordings in the videos contain strong language.
1. Treasurer told to change budget
In one phone call from May 2018, Mr Maguire complained to Ms Berejiklian about his struggle to get funding for several projects, including Wagga Wagga and Tumut hospitals.
Ms Berejiklian told the ICAC she couldn't recall intervening in these issues but in a phone call played during the hearing, she is heard telling Mr Maguire she would "fix it".
"That's two years in a row that we have had no money," Mr Maguire said.
"I'll deal with it, I'll fix it," Ms Berejikilian replied.
The then-premier told Mr Maguire she had instructed Dominic Perrottet, who was treasurer at the time, to include money for Wagga Wagga Base Hospital’s redevelopment in the state budget.
"I just spoke to Dom and I said just put 140 (million dollars) in the budget. And he said no worries, just does what I ask him to," Ms Berejiklian said.
2. Berejiklian said she would sack public servant
In a tapped call from 2017, Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire are heard discussing a proposal for the state government to provide funding to the Riverina Conservatorium of Music.
The former member for Wagga Wagga campaigned directly to Ms Berejiklian about the project.
On the call, Ms Berejiklian says she wants to sack a public servant, whose identity was not disclosed.
Daryl Maguire: "I had, what's his name, some senior …"
Gladys Berejiklian: "I can't stand that guy, his head will be gone soon."
DM: "Not until he fixes my conservatorium …"
GB: "Alright, good. Tell him to fix it and then after he fixes it I'm sacking him."
Ms Berejiklian told the ICAC "one of the reasons" she may have delayed sacking this employee was so that he had time to finalise funding arrangements for the Riverina Conservatorium of Music.
"I can't say that was the main reason ... but it could be one of the reasons,” she said.
She said she never sacked the person and that they still worked in the public service.
3. Maguire told Berejiklian he had been subpoenaed
In a call from July 5, 2018, Mr Maguire told Ms Berejiklian he had been summoned as a witness before the ICAC.
Throughout the call, he assured his girlfriend he had done nothing wrong but was infuriated by the entire process.
"You sound very excited in your voice, what's happened today?" Ms Berejiklian said.
"What's happened is I've been subpoenaed to go to ICAC," Mr Maguire replied.
Ms Berejiklian advised him to not be "macho", be honest and direct and follow the advice of his legal counsel.
The then-Wagga Wagga MP then criticised the corruption watchdog and joked it was probably listening in on their call.
It was.
"Big brother, you know, they can tap into every phone conversation there is, absolutely unfettered power," Mr Maguire said.
"They could be taping your conversation with me right now. You wouldn't know."
On the same phone call, Mr Maguire said he had approached high-profile barrister Arthur Moses to represent him but was told he was too busy.
In June this year, it was revealed Ms Berejiklian and Mr Moses were in a relationship. He represented her during last year's ICAC hearing.
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2021-10-29 05:45:10Z
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