ICAC: Berejiklian’s tapped phone calls revealed

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation into former New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s conduct has revealed interesting new details.

On October 28, 2021, ICAC was presented with tapped telephone calls and messages between Gladys Bereiklian and her former “close personal friend” and former Wagga MP Daryl Maguire.

The recordings of one phone call revealed that Maguire told Berejiklian how to fire him, just after he allegedly lied to the corruption watch dog on July 13, 2018.

During the recording, Maguire says to Berejiklian “Get stuck into me. Kick the sh*t out of me. Good for party morale”.

This call occurred just two days before Berejiklian released a tense and furious statement in which she fired Maguire.

Other interceptions revealed that Maguire was asked for his input on how to win the by-election triggered in the Wagga, after his leaving. He was heard on a tapped call speaking to the Liberal candidate for the Wagga by-election, Julia Ham, advising her on how to run her campaign.

During one bugged call revealed to the ICAC, Berejiklian said “I’ll throw money at Wagga, don’t you worry about that.”

In another call, Berejiklian was heard saying “You just have to do what’s right on your end, otherwise you’ll kill me.”

In response, Maguire said “I’m batting for you. You just need to know what the right things are to throw money at Wagga.”

“I already know, you’ve already told me the three top things,” said Berejiklian.

Maguire then told Berejiklian to “go and give them a stadium”, to which Berejiklian said “I’ll do that too, don’t worry.”

“The bureaucrats’ won’t allow it,” Maguire said. Berejiklian responded, “Yes, but I can overrule them.”

“I’ll throw money at Wagga, don’t you worry about that,” @GladysB is heard saying to Maguire on July 30, 2018. He also complains that Wagga needs a stadium but it’s not getting it. Gladys says she can overrule the bureaucrats. Maguire had resigned, by-election forthcoming. #ICAC

— Kate McClymont (@Kate_McClymont) October 28, 2021

These intercepted calls and messages were revealed to the ICAC on the same day that Maguire took the stand.

Maguire was forced to reveal that he and Berejiklian shared feelings of love. Additionally, Maguire revealed that he and Berejiklian often stayed at one another’s homes, having their own keys for access.

Maguire also shared with ICAC that he and Berejiklian had discussed marriage and “having a child” together.

Daryl Maguire has told #ICAC that he and @GladysB not only contemplated marriage, they also talked of having a child. Maguire agreed there was “physical intimacy.”

— Kate McClymont (@Kate_McClymont) October 28, 2021

Berejiklian is scheduled to take to the ICAC stand on Friday, October 29, 2021.