Former NSW Treasurer Matt Kean voices disapproval at ICAC for Gladys Berejiklian probe

By TILEAH DOBSON

Former NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has put the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on blast, stating that their investigation against former premier Gladys Berejiklian was “botched” and demands it be reformed.

ICAC recently handed down its long-awaited report of its findings on the former premier’s conduct, stating that they found Berejiklian to have engaged in corrupt conduct and breached the public’s trust through her private relationship with ex-MP Daryl Maguire.

It had been two years since the watchdog began its probe and ruling into the former Liberal leader’s conduct. Something that shouldn’t have taken so long, according to Kean.

“I think our think our integrity body is too important and has such an important role in our democracy but they can’t be botching these processes,” Kean said to Sky News.

“They have real implications not only on individuals, but on our system of democracy.”

The core findings against Berejiklian and Maguire focus on an undisclosed relationship between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire, along with two multi-million-dollar grants, given to the Australian Clay Target Association and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music between 2016 and 2018.

As both organisations fall within Maguire’s former electorate of Wagga Wagga, where he represented the seat between 1999 and 2018. Berejiklian had presided over Expenditure Review Committee that approved the grants.

The ICAC report highlights that the former premier was “influenced by the existence of her close personal relationship with Mr Maguire and by a desire on her part to maintain or advance that relationship.”

ICAC’s report rules that it found that Mr Maguire improperly used his office and position as the MP of Wagga Wagga to benefit himself financially and a company, G8wayInternational, from which he shared profits.

He had failed to disclose his interest and position in the business, and that he had an arrangement to share profits from the company’s revenue.

Kean has maintained support for Berejiklian, stating that ICAC’s ruling of her corrupt conduct doesn’t pass “the pub test.”

“ICAC has formed the view that’s the case and they’ve basically said that Gladys not disclosing the secret relationship was akin to Eddie Obeid lining his pockets with millions of millions of dollars,” he said.

Minns Remains Tight-Lipped

NSW Premier Chris Minns maintains that he will not call on Berejiklian to apologise for her actions, despite the report’s findings.

When asked by a journalist whether Berejiklian should apologise to the state, Minns stated “No, I’m not calling for that.”

Minns has also avoided answering whether he thought the former Liberal leader was corrupt.

“It’s not for me to pass judgment about findings made by independent organisations or investigatory bodies,” he said as reported by news.com.au.

“I’m not going to comment about specific recommendations or inquiries just as I wouldn’t in the normal course of events comment about Supreme Court judgments.”

“What I would say and what I said about Premier Berejiklian yesterday is that I thought her service to the state during Covid was exemplary, and notwithstanding the findings from ICAC in the last 24 hours, I don’t think it detracts from her record of service during what was a terrible period in the state’s history.”