Gladys' ex jailed for ICAC lies
Maguire, 66, appeared at Sydney Central District Court on Wednesday,dressed neatly in a suit and tie, after he was in June found guilty by a magistrate of one count of giving false or misleading evidence at a public inquiry.
The former Wagga Wagga MP had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which related to his evidence before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in July 2018.
On Wednesday, Magistrate Clare Farnan sentenced him to a 10-month jail term.
He was soon put in handcuffs and taken into custody. Former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire has been taken into custody. NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia
He will be eligible for parole in January.
In sentencing, Ms Farnan told the court the misleading evidence given by Maguire concerned his dealings with a multimillion-dollar property development.
'The evidence there was nothing in it for him was misleading … and he was to receive a commission if the property was to be sold,' she said.
Ms Farnan said Maguire was 'clearly trying to protect his reputation among other things'.
'The community is entitled to expect that those who hold power will conduct themselves with integrity,' she said.
Maguire has maintained his innocence, saying he answered the ICAC questions to the best of his ability. Maguire has been sentenced to 10 months behind bars. NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia
He is expected to file an appeal, with the court expected to resume on Wednesday morning before Ms Farnan to hear details of the appeal.
Ms Farnan said Maguire had displayed no remorse for his actions, though he had no history of similar offending and his likelihood of reoffending remained low.
'The need for general deterrence does require a period of full-time imprisonment,' she said.
While a 12-month stint behind bars was initially to be ordered, Maguire was offered a two-month discount due to delays in the court proceedings.
Ms Farnan also took into account the impact of 'significant media interest' in the case on the 66-year-old's mental health.
The small courtroom was packed with members of the media on Wednesday, who watched on closely as Maguire was taken into custody. Maguire is the ex-boyfriend of former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian. Newswire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia
During the ICAC probe, Maguire denied asking to receive a financial benefit for brokering a property deal at Canterbury.
However in recorded phone conversations, the former MP admitted he had asked for a slice of the profits if the multimillion-dollar deal with a Chinese developer was finalised.
Maguire was found guilty of the charge in June.
The former Wagga Wagga MP resigned from the NSW parliament in 2018 after ICAC launched a separate investigation into his conduct while in office.
The inquiry revealed he had been in a secret five-year 'close personal relationship' with ex-premier Gladys Berejiklian.
She resigned from her position in September 2021 after ICAC announced it would investigate whether she breached the ministerial code of conduct.
The commission found in July 2023 that both Maguire and Ms Berejiklian engaged in serious corrupt conduct.
More to come
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
9 minutes ago
- Perth Now
China races to build world's largest solar farm
Chinese government officials have shown off what they say will be the world's largest solar farm. It's on a Tibetan plateau and covers 610 square kilometres, which is the size of Chicago. China has been installing solar panels far faster than anywhere else in the world, and the investment is starting to pay off. A study released Thursday found that the country's carbon emissions edged down one per cent in the first six months of 2025 compared to a year earlier, extending a trend that began in March 2024. The good news is China's carbon emissions may have peaked well ahead of a government target of doing so before 2030. But China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, will need to bring them down much more sharply to play its part in slowing global climate change. For China to reach its declared goal of carbon neutrality by 2060, emissions would need to fall three per cent on average over the next 35 years, said Lauri Myllyvirta, the Finland-based author of the study and lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. "China needs to get to that three per cent territory as soon as possible," he said. China's emissions have fallen before during economic slowdowns. What's different this time is electricity demand is growing — up 3.7 per cent in the first half of this year — but the increase in power from solar, wind and nuclear has easily outpaced that, according to Myllyvirta, who analyses the most recent data in a study published on the UK-based Carbon Brief website. "We're talking really for the first time about a structural declining trend in China's emissions," he said. China installed 212 gigawatts of solar capacity in the first six months of the year, more than America's entire capacity of 178 gigawatts as of the end of 2024, the study said. Electricity from solar has overtaken hydropower in China and is poised to surpass wind this year to become the country's largest source of clean energy. Some 51 gigawatts of wind power were added from January to June. Li Shuo, the director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington, described the plateauing of China's carbon emissions as a turning point in the effort to combat climate change. "This is a moment of global significance, offering a rare glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak climate landscape," he wrote in an email response. It also shows that a country can cut emissions while still growing economically, he said. But Li cautioned that China's heavy reliance on coal remains a serious threat to progress on climate and said the economy needs to shift to less resource-intensive sectors. "There's still a long road ahead," he said. A seemingly endless expanse of solar panels stretches toward the horizon on the Tibetan plateau. White two-story buildings rise above them at regular intervals. In an area that is largely desert, the massive solar project has wrought a surprising change on the landscape. The panels act as windbreaks to reduce dust and sand and slow soil evaporation, giving vegetation a foothold. Thousands of sheep, dubbed "photovoltaic sheep," graze happily on the scrubby plants. Wang Anwei, the energy administration chief of Hainan Prefecture, called it a "win-win" situation on multiple levels. "In terms of production, enterprises generate electricity on the top level, and in terms of ecology, grass grows at the bottom under the solar panels, and villagers can herd sheep in between," he said. Solar panels have been installed on about two-thirds of the land, with power already flowing from completed phases. When fully complete, the project will have more than seven million panels and be capable of generating enough power for five million households. Like many of China's solar and wind farms, it was built in the relatively sparsely populated west. A major challenge is getting electricity to the population centres and factories in China's east. "The distribution of green energy resources is perfectly misaligned with the current industrial distribution of our country," Zhang Jinming, the vice governor of Qinghai province, told journalists on a government-organised tour. Part of the solution is building transmission lines traversing the country. One connects Qinghai to Henan province. Two more are planned, including one to Guangdong province in the southeast, almost at the opposite corner of the country. Making full use of the power is hindered by the relatively inflexible way that China's electricity grid is managed, tailored to the steady output of coal plants rather than more variable and less predictable wind and solar, Myllyvirta said. "This is an issue that the policymakers have recognised and are trying to manage, but it does require big changes to the way coal-fired power plants operate and big changes to the way the transmission network operates," he said. "So it's no small task."
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Childcare workers could soon face phone ban
State and federal education ministers will discuss progress on a nationwide mobile phone ban for early childcare workers, among a range of other measures aimed at bolstering safety at centres. States, including South Australia, Victoria and most recently Western Australia, have already gone further with a total ban on personal mobile phones in centres, however all states and territories agreed to the voluntary Model Code set by the Commonwealth. The federal code restricts educators and workers from taking photo and videos on their personal devices. However, centre-issued devices are exempt from the rule. Other measures set to dominate the meeting, which will be held in Sydney on Friday, include funding a National Educator Register to ensure workers who fail to meet standards can't bypass state jurisdictions, tougher penalties to deter noncompliance and mandatory child safety training for all staff. State and federal education ministers will discuss new rules for childcare centres to keep children safe. Credit: istock Federal Education Minister Jason Clare will also propose a funding package of up to $189m over four years to implement the changes. The special meeting of education ministers follows a string of child abuse and sexual assault allegations, including Melbourne former childcare worker Joshua Brown who faces more than 70 charges. Australian Federal Police officers allege NSW worker David William James produced child abuse material of 10 victims, the oldest being six years old. As a result, the Commonwealth passed laws which would cut off funding to centres which repeatedly breached standards, plus allow compliance officers to conduct checks without prior warning. Former Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown has been hit with more than 70 child abuse and child sexual assault charges. Picture Supplied Credit: Supplied Mr Clare said Friday's meeting would discuss the 'next step' in ensuring safety standards in centres. 'No parent should ever have to wonder if their child is safe when they drop them off at child care,' he said. 'We need a national register to ensure we know who is caring for our children and their work history.' He also flagged mandatory child safety training as another priority. 'The overwhelming majority of childcare workers are awesome at what they do caring for and educating our children. They are just as angry as everyone else,' he said. 'They're our best asset here and we need to back them with the skills to spot when something isn't right. 'We also need to ban personal phones and ramp up inspections to make sure centres are up to scratch.' Education Minister Jason Clare will convene a special meeting with his state counterparts to discuss safety measures. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh conceded 'there was more to do'. 'Our action supports the overwhelming majority of educators and providers who do the right thing and shuts the door on people and providers who do harm,' she said. 'Our investment of up to $184m is the biggest child safety package the early learning sector has ever seen.' The Coalition's education and early learning spokesman Jonno Duniam said Friday's meeting must produce 'immediate, consistent reforms'. He said there needed to be a consistent phone ban across all states, and backed South Australia's $50,000 penalties for noncompliance on Model Code. 'Every opportunity to shift the dial should be on the table. This includes considering targets in the extended preschool reform agreement,' he said. 'A national register of childcare workers should have been implemented already, and there must be consistency in the implementation of personal phone bans. 'South Australia is imposing $50,000 penalties for noncompliance to the new code. We want to see all states and territories follow suit.'
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Outlandish': Judge's disbelief at fire claim
A woman who set a 20-year-old on fire has made a shock claim about what she used to carry out the horror attack. Jordan Spencer, 34, doused Paris Carpio with petrol in the front yard of her Shepparton home in January last year before igniting the young woman with a lighter. Spencer, a mother of five, appeared in the Victorian Supreme Court on Thursday for a pre-sentence hearing after pleading guilty to a charge of intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence. She would not meet the eye of three members of Ms Carpio's family as she entered court flanked by two custody officers and was seated in the dock. Jordan Spencer has pleaded guilty. NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia Previously, the court was told Ms Carpio was visiting family and friends in the northern Victorian city on January 15 when she encountered Spencer's boyfriend Rob McLaren while drinking with a friend at Rigg Reserve. Mr McLaren, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, took Ms Carpio's e-scooter and rode off when she'd walked to a nearby milk bar to purchase cigarettes at 5.20pm. About 15 minutes later, Ms Carpio attended Spencer's home 'upset and clearly intoxicated' looking for Mr McLaren, yelling that she wanted her e-scooter back. She spoke to Spencer, who said Mr McLaren wasn't there, and later smashed a window and attempted to force her way into the home. Ms Carpio left after Spencer called triple-0 but returned less than an hour later after spotting Mr McLaren riding the streets on her device. Paris Carpio suffered burns to 30 per cent of her body. Supplied. Credit: News Corp Australia She broke a glass panel near the front door, with Spencer urging her to come inside, saying 'I'll give you what you deserve'. Just before 6.30pm as Ms Carpio was backing away Spencer exited the house, flinging a bowl of petrol at the young woman and repeatedly attempting to ignite the lighter. Outlining the facts of the case, Crown prosecutor John Dickie said CCTV recorded that Spencer 'watched Ms Carpio burning' before picking up her lighter and going inside. Ms Carpio suffered severe burns to her upper body and was rushed to hospital in Melbourne in a critical state, while Spencer walked to a neighbour's house and attempted to blame her victim. Inside her home police discovered a jerry can with two litres of petrol on a kitchen bench and the jet lighter on the dining table. In recorded jailhouse calls, Spencer blamed Mr McLaren for 'causing the whole instigation of the f--king argument' and claiming she was 'f--ked' because he hadn't removed the CCTV recording. 'Yeah, well you didn't come to fix what you started so I had to,' she said. The court was told Spencer maintains the bowl of petrol and lighter had been placed by the front door by Mr McLaren as a home defence tool. She claimed she didn't know what was in the bowl but had been instructed by Mr McLaren to use it if threatened. Spencer herself suffered burns and was taken to hospital. Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia Justice Andrew Tinney described this claim as 'highly implausible', noting that while there had been a spate of fire attacks in recent memory, they were 'in the heat of the moment' incidents. 'I've never heard of the proposition of protecting a drug house by having a bowl of petrol … it just sounds pretty outlandish,' the judge said. The court was told Spencer had been using methamphetamine in the days leading up to the attack. Called to give evidence on Thursday, clinical psychologist Courtney Steffens said she believed the offending was influenced by Spencer's drug use, traumatic background and diagnoses of complex PTSD and borderline personality disorder. She said she'd assessed Spencer and formed the view that the 'severely disproportionate' reaction was a fear response, linked to concern for her safety and that of her children. 'Because of the impulsivity and emotional dysregulation she didn't think fully about the consequences of her actions,' the psychologist said. This was challenged by Mr Dickie, who argued that Spencer was intent on setting fire to Ms Carpio and motivated by anger towards her. 'I would not be prepared to solely conclude that,' Ms Steffens said. 'My impression was that she was experiencing emotional dysregulation … she was in a state of fear.' Paris Carpio's mother Kylie Powell attended the hearing. NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia In a statement to the court, Ms Carpio, now 22, said her life had been changed forever by an 'act of cruelty and inhumanity' perpetrated by Spencer. 'My family was told multiple times that I might not survive. They watched over me helpless, praying that I would wake up,' she said. 'I am here today, but survival came at enormous cost physically and emotionally and psychologically.' Ms Carpio said before the incident she was a 'joyful person', loving life and feeling comfortable in her own skin. 'Jordan Spencer stole that from me. She didn't just hurt my body, she destroyed a part of my spirit,' she said. 'Every day is a battle to stay alive, to stay hopeful, to believe in something better, but that battle is exhausting. 'No sentence Jordan Spencer receives will ever truly be enough. There is no number of years in prison that can erase the suffering I've endured, the pain, the fear, the depression, the disfigurement, the stolen sense of self.' Spencer will return to court on Monday for a further pre-sentence hearing.
