Disgraced former MP Daryl Maguire has been cross-examined by the corruption watchdog during an extraordinary questioning session where he admitted to “assisting a number of developers” in the hopes of making a profit. Counsel Assisting Scott Robertson read out correspondence between Mr Maguire and the Planning Minister at the time which revealed the former MP organised meetings between developers and politicians.
Mr Robertson suggested the assistance would provide businessmen with a “shortcut” through the usual bureaucratic processes.
Mr Maguire said he provided this special assistance “out of friendship” in some cases but agreed he hoped “there might be some profits flowing” from the aid he had provided.
Mr Robertson probed Mr Maguire on whether he had “ever assisted a property developer by sending a letter of the kind we saw on the screen a moment ago with a view to assisting some other property developer getting relevant approvals to be able to allow a project to proceed?”
The former MP responded by conceding he had “assisted a number of developers”.
Mr Maguire did push back later on in the questioning pointing out before the ICAC inquiry, “anyone can write to a minister and seek the same thing I did”.
However, Mr Robertson highlighted Mr Maguire’s position as the Member for Wagga Wagga.
“You weren't a general member of the public, you were writing on your member of parliament letterhead,” he said.
Mr Maguire eventually agreed he was lending the weight of his office as a member of parliament by making representations to the minister.
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