Major finding handed down against the corruption watchdog that ruled Gladys Berejiklian engaged in ‘serious corrupt conduct’
Major finding against corruption watchdog that found Gladys Berejiklian guilty of ‘seriously corrupt conduct’
NSW’s corruption watchdog has been cleared of maladministration in the time it took to make findings regarding former Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption took more than 600 days after the last public hearing to issue its report on Ms Berejiklian’s behavior while she was in a secret five-year relationship with fellow Liberal MP Daryl Maguire.
It found Ms Berejiklian guilty of ‘seriously corrupt behaviour’ by breaching public trust and refusing to press charges against her then-lover, but did not recommend criminal charges against the former prime minister.
Corrupt findings were also made against Mr Maguire.
Former NSW Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian found guilty of ‘seriously corrupt behaviour’ by a watchdog
ICAC inspector Gail Furness said in a report issued Wednesday that the watchdog was not breaking the law, but that it should review its reporting procedures.
“When I weigh the impact against the complexity, importance and available resources, I am confident that the time it takes to report to parliament on Operation Keppel does not amount to mismanagement,” Ms Furness said in the report. .
“While the matter is serious, it was not unreasonable, unfair, oppressive or inappropriately discriminatory.”
Ms. Furness advised ICAC to consider imposing a limit on the number of pages of assisting counsel’s submissions and responses.
She also recommended reviewing who is appointed to the review panel, and prioritizing panellists over their usual duties when handling reports.
Former NSW Liberal MP and ex-boyfriend Ms Berejiklian Daryl Maguire (pictured left) also had a negative finding against him
Ms Berejiklian, in her role as Treasurer and later Prime Minister, supported and followed a funding proposal from the Clay Target Association – in Mr Maguire’s electorate – in 2016 and 2017.
The Commission found that she acted in this manner in part ‘to maintain or further that relationship with Mr Maguire’.
In 2018, ICAC found that she had again ‘breached public trust’ in her decision making for the Riverina Conservatorium of Music – another proposal from Mr Maguire.
She set aside a $20 million pool of funding for the project.
Ms. Berejiklian has again failed to disclose a potential conflict of interest based on her relationship with Mr. Maguire.
Five weeks after being found to be ‘seriously corrupt’, former Mrs Berejiklian looked relaxed during a morning walk with her partner Arthur Moses.
The powerwalking power couple wore proper activewear for their early morning walk, with Ms. Berjiklian wearing a black Nike puffer jacket, pink Nike runners and black track pants.
Mr Moses wore blue sneakers, black shorts that showed off his athletic legs and a dark blue top with the logo of his beloved rugby team Parramatta Eels.
In addition to his dedication to his legal work – having served as President of both the NSW Bar Association and the Law Council of Australia – Mr Moses is a fitness enthusiast.
“He is very keen on personal fitness, he is extremely fit and runs up to 10km most days,” a source told Daily Mail Australia when his relationship with Ms Berejiklian first became public in June 2021.
ICAC inspector Gail Furness has cleared the watchdog of the time it took to make findings against the former prime minister