Former New South Wales Liberal leader Gladys Berejiklian has lost her court bid to overturn findings she acted corruptly amid her romance with party colleague Daryl Maguire in her time as premier.
On July 26, Chief Justice Andrew Bell maintained findings that Ms. Berejiklian breached public trust because of the undisclosed relationship.
The court stipulated that her then-partner had pushed millions of dollars in funding arrangements for his Wagga Wagga electorate while she was sitting on a cabinet committee.
From 2016 to 2018, Ms. Berejiklian was both premier and treasurer. Within that capacity, she approved or backed significant allocations for Wagga Wagga, including $5.5 million for the Australian Clay Target Association and $10 million for the Riverina Conservatorium of Music.
In Ms. Berejiklian’s appeal bid, her barrister Bret Walker SC argued that the personal relationship of ministers did not automatically equate to corruption.
However, Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) barrister Stephen Free SC said the former Liberal leader had been influenced by her desire to continue her relationship with Mr. Maguire.
Mr. Free asserted that Ms. Berejiklian’s plans for the future, including marriage, children, and life after politics with Mr. Maguire, were indicative of a special interest.
The ex-premier argued she had treated him like any other MP.
However, ICAC said her actions showed she had been “wilful” in not disclosing her relationship.
As a result, ICAC ultimately rejected each of her grounds for review.
“Ms Berejiklian’s application to quash the commission’s findings of ’serious corrupt conduct' or to have those findings declared as made without or in excess of jurisdiction should be dismissed, with costs,” the decision said.
Criminal charges were never brought against Ms. Berejiklian and she has denied allegations of corruption, saying she acted in the state’s best interests at all times.
Ms. Berejiklian stood down as premier in 2021, at the start of the investigation, and moved to a role with telecommunications giant Optus.
In a statement released in 2021, Ms. Berejiklian said she had always acted with the utmost integrity.
“History will demonstrate that I have always executed my duties with the highest degree of integrity for the benefit of the people of NSW who I have had the privilege to serve,” she wrote at the time.
A full written report on the appeal findings is expected to be released on July 26.
