Former Wagga MP Daryl Maguire, facing new corruption inquiry, lost career at 2018 ICAC hearing

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption announced on Tuesday that it will hold a public inquiry into allegations that Mr Maguire breached public trust and used parliamentary resources for personal gain.

"The commission is investigating allegations that, from 2012 to August 2018, Mr Maguire engaged in conduct that involved a breach of public trust by using his public office, involving his duties as a member of the NSW Parliament, and the use of parliamentary resources, to improperly gain a benefit for himself and/or entities close to him," a statement from ICAC said.

It will be the first time that ICAC has directly targeted Mr Maguire for investigation via a public hearing, and the revelation came just over two years since he last appeared before the commission.

Public hearings on the new inquiry are due to start on September 21 and are expected to take four weeks and involve multiple witnesses.

Elected in 1999, Mr Maguire was credited with securing the $282 million first stage of the Wagga Base Hospital redevelopment and many other projects like the new courthouse, police station and clay target shooting centre.

Mr Maguire also announced the site of Estella's new school, which is under construction and due to open for term one next year.

However, the MP's appearances at ICAC, both in person and via secretly recorded phone calls, went on to change Wagga's political landscape at the state level.

ICAC began Operation Dasha to investigate allegations that former Canterbury councillors and senior executive staff, between 2013 and 2016, dishonestly and/or partially exercised their official functions in relation to planning proposals.

In July 2018, ICAC heard a recorded phone conversation between then Canterbury councillor Michael Hawatt and Mr Maguire.

The May 2016 call included Mr Maguire searching for housing projects with approved development applications that his client, allegedly Charbel Demian, could purchase.

"My client is mega big and got mega money and - and wants two or three DA approved projects right now. Today," Mr Maguire told Mr Hawatt.

Mr Maguire also told Mr Hawatt that a 1.5 per cent dividend from sale was "not enough" and he preferred 3 per cent.

"One point five per cent isn't enough divided by two if you know what I'm talking about?" Mr Maguire told Mr Hawatt on the phone.

Mr Demian has denied ever having discussions about paying sales commissions to either Mr Maguire or Mr Hawatt.

When Mr Maguire gave evidence to ICAC in person on July 13, 2018 counsel assisting the commission, David Buchanan, asked if he intended to share the dividend with Mr Hawatt and "an interested person".

Mr Maguire responded "yes" and was then asked "who was the interested person?"

"Well, I suspect it was me," Mr Maguire said.

Mr Buchanan also asked Mr Maguire about his discussion with Mr Hawatt about raising a height limit on a proposed Lakemba development.

"Is it the case that you didn't care whether Mr Hawatt was a person who was in a position to participate in the decision to grant an approval to add considerable value to that property?" Mr Buchanan asked.

"You could assume that," Mr Maguire responded.

Mr Maguire quit the Liberal Party following his ICAC appearance, which had generated widespread media coverage, but did not resign from Parliament.

In response, the Labor opposition threatened to attempt a rarely used parliamentary procedure, Standing Order 254, to force Mr Maguire's expulsion for "conduct unworthy of a Member of Parliament".

Mr Maguire posted a short video on his Facebook page in the days after the 2018 ICAC hearing.

"I need to again apologise for breaching the very strict code of conduct; for that I'm really sorry," Mr Maguire said.

"For those that have been offended, family, friends: I have let you down."

Mr Maguire told his 500 Facebook followers that he would "continue to work for the people of Wagga, as I have always done" until the March 2019 general election.

"I won't resign, I'm not going to resign," he said.

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The video was deleted shortly after being posted, which was followed by Mr Maguire's entire social media account being taken down.

In Wagga, residents were being canvassed about joining a protest march calling for Mr Maguire to quit parliament.

A handmade sign was put up near the corner of Morgan and Tarcutta streets that stated "resign now Daryl" in red paint.

Mr Maguire resigned from parliament 18 days after posting his apology video.

The resignation triggered a byelection that saw the Liberals lose the Wagga electorate, which they had held for 57 years, to independent Dr Joe McGirr.

The Coalition failed to win back the seat in 2019.

Daryl Maguire was elected the Liberal Party Member for Wagga Wagga in 1999 and held the position until his resignation in 2018.

On March 27, 1999, Mr Maguire became a Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly when he was elected the Member for Wagga Wagga.

For 10 months from May 2014, Mr Maguire was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier for rural and regional affairs.

He served as both the Government and Opposition Whip throughout his parliamentary career.

He was also been a member of various committees including the Joint Select Committee on Loose Fill Asbestos Insulation in 2014, the Joint Standing Committee on electoral matters from 2012 to 2014, the Standing Orders and Procedure Committee from 2011 to 2014, and the State and Regional Development Committee between 2011 and 2014.

In mid-June 2011, he was the Legislative Assembly Trustee, Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Fund.

On February 1, 2017, Mr Maguire became the Parliamentary Secretary for the Centenary of Anzac, Counter Terrorism, Corrections and Veterans.

He resigned from that position in July 2018.

On 3 August 2018, Mr Maguire resigned from Parliament after recordings of him discussing kickbacks from property deals were aired at a corruption inquiry.

In September, Mr Maguire will again front the Independent Commission Against Corruption on further allegations.