Sydney property developer and Jgroup construction boss Joseph Alha told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Tuesday that Mr Maguire wanted to identify "baddies" who were applying for the newly formed Independent Hearing and Assessment Panels (IHAP).

Mr Alha initially denied he had such conversations with Mr Maguire but said his memory was refreshed when multiple intercepted phone calls and text messages were presented to the ICAC hearing.

"I told him the two people that I had a difficult time with," Mr Alha told ICAC.

ICAC is investigating allegations that Mr Maguire used his public office for personal gain between 2012 and 2018.

Mr Alha agreed when counsel assisting ICAC Scott Robertson said it was "in your own business interests, that the 10 members of IHAPs would be predominantly what I'll call Liberal people rather than Labor people".

"We wanted Liberal people everywhere, really, because that's the party that supports you," Mr Alha said.

ICAC was also shown an email in which Mr Maguire told Mr Alha "I need a list of baddies that have applies [sic] to be on IHAP".

Mr Maguire also sent an email to Robert Vellar, then-chief of staff to the NSW Planning Minister, in November 2017 that stated "I'm told there's a lot of shifty characters applying. Danger, Will Robinson".

Mr Vellar asked for names.