Wagga MP Daryl Maguire has temporarily departed the electorate to deal with a death in his family.
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Mr Maguire has been battling since Friday to save his place in parliament following widespread condemnation from revelations at an anti-corruption hearing.
Mr Maguire issued written statements on Thursday morning saying that son-in-law had “passed away after a short period of illness”.
“No further comment will be made by Daryl Maguire MP regarding the ongoing Independent Commission Against Corruption Inquiry,” the statement said.
“A member of Mr Maguire’s immediate family has passed away and Mr Maguire has left the electorate to be with his family. Mr Maguire asks that he and his family be provided with some privacy at this time.
“It is business as usual for the Wagga Wagga electorate office.
“The office is open 9-5, Monday to Friday and all constituent enquiries will continue to be answered as they have in the past.”
A follow-up statement was released an hour later, saying: “Mr Maguire’s son-in-law has passed away after a short period of illness. It is expected he will be back at Parliament for 7 August 2018.”
Mr Maguire resigned from the Liberal Party and as a parliamentary secretary on Friday after an ICAC hearing revealed his attempt to profit from a Chinese property deal.
Nationals leader and Acting Premier John Barilaro said on Wednesday that Mr Maguire should resign from parliament entirely.
The Labor Party has threatened to deploy a rarely used standing order to expel Mr Maguire from parliament if he does not resign by August 7.
A statement from Mr Maguire’s office said he expected he “will be back at Parliament for 7 August”.
The Greens told Australian Associated Press that its three lower house MPs would vote to expel Mr Maguire.
“The Greens would support any action that enforces the ethical standards politicians should be bound to and holds them to account,” Newtown MP Jenny Leong said.
“If the member doesn’t take this up before parliament resumes then it is clear that the parliament will need to take action.”
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party’s lower house MP and independent MP Greg Piper have both told Fairfax Media that they would support an expulsion.