Gladys Berejiklian refuses to answer questions as she leaves her home to attend corruption commission over secret relationship
Gladys Berejiklian refused to answer questions on Thursday morning as the commission that exposed her secret love life at the peak of her popularity prepares to deliver its report into the former NSW premier’s relationship with an ex-MP.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Thursday morning will table the long-awaited report in the NSW parliament, more than 600 days after public hearings ended.
Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) refused to answer questions on Thursday morning
Ms Berejiklian (pictured right) and her barrister boyfriend Arthur Moses (left) were pictured hand-in-hand taking an early morning stroll in activewear last weekend
The report is expected to be published online minutes later.
ICAC had investigated whether Ms Berejiklian breached public trust by failing to disclose her long-time personal relationship with then-MP Daryl Maguire while treasurer and premier.
The commission’s inquiry began as a probe into possible corrupt conduct by Mr Maguire but expanded to Ms Berejiklian after she was compelled to reveal the relationship in public hearings in 2020.
She denied wrongdoing and retained office, only to step down when ICAC in late-2021 began investigating her conduct.
Even after the relationship was exposed, Ms Berejiklian had widespread public support, with net approval ratings of more than 35 per cent.
After quitting office in October 2021, she turned down an opportunity to run for federal parliament and moved into the private sector as an Optus executive.
Her date with ICAC destiny seemed far from Ms Berejiklian’s mind as she was pictured touching up her makeup at a cafe table last Saturday
The couple wore matching dark caps and designer sunglasses. Mr Moses is pictured left and Ms Berejiklian is pictured right
Delays in the release of the ICAC report into Ms Berejiklian and Ms Maguire have been criticised.
The commission has said delays were caused by complex legal issues and copious submissions.
The NSW Labor government on Wednesday backed a parliamentary committee’s call for ICAC to set deadlines for future investigations and measure its performance against them.
‘(The changes) will increase transparency and public accountability of the ICAC’s reporting functions without imposing inflexible restrictions on the ICAC,’ the government said.
