Parliamentarians have clashed over a bid to refer Premier Gladys Berejiklian to the Independent Commission Against Corruption for matters relating to her relationship with former Wagga MP Daryl Maguire.
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A Labor motion to refer Ms Berejiklian to ICAC for a new investigation was voted down on November 12 in the NSW Legislative Assembly, after being carried 22 votes to 15 in the Legislative Council.
Labor is calling for ICAC to investigate Ms Berejiklian in part for her "failure" to refer any of Mr Maguire's conduct to the corruption body.
They also say the premier should be scrutinised for not disclosing her close relationship with the disgraced former MP after he first appeared in front of ICAC in 2018.
Their relationship was not publicly known until October this year, when it was revealed during an ICAC investigation into claims Mr Maguire misused his parliamentary office for personal financial gain.
Amid a heated debate in the upper house on November 12, One Nation MLC Mark Latham accused Ms Berejiklian of failing to disclose to both Parliament and the NSW public her relationship with Mr Maguire.
Mr Latham called on the premier to resign and said "short of that" she should be referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption for a new investigation.
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But Liberal leader of the upper house Damien Tudehope called Labor's motion a "stunt", suggesting it was introduced for the 6pm television news and the next morning's newspapers.
He said anyone with a complaint could take it straight to ICAC without the need for a motion to be passed in parliament.
Greens MLC David Shoebridge, who chairs the Public Accountability Committee, said "the people of NSW would benefit" from an ICAC report into Ms Berejiklian's conduct.
The premier has in recent weeks been the subject of further controversy over her office's handling of the $252 Stronger Communities Fund grants.
Labor and the Greens have accused the premier of "pork-barrelling" after it emerged 95 per cent of the funds went to councils in Coalition-held electorates before the 2019 election.
Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich spoke on behalf of the three independents in the legislative assembly, including current Wagga MP Joe McGirr.
Mr Greenwich said he was confident ICAC would conduct further inquiries if it needed more information, calling the Legislative Council's referral "superfluous".
The Daily Advertiser contacted Ms Berejiklian's office for comment.
Catie McLeod
Catie is a reporter at The Daily Advertiser covering health and Wagga City Council. You can contact her on c.mcleod@dailyadvertiser.com.au or 0475 819 651.
Catie is a reporter at The Daily Advertiser covering health and Wagga City Council. You can contact her on c.mcleod@dailyadvertiser.com.au or 0475 819 651.
