ICAC’s Gladys Berejiklian report won’t be ready for months

A corruption investigation into former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is set to drag on for several months. 

The state’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said in an email to media on Wednesday afternoon that the report concluding the probe would not be done this quarter.

“On the information presently available, the commission anticipates it is more likely to be available for furnishing in the second quarter of 2023,” the update read. 

Berejiklian denied suggestions at ICAC hearings that she had breached the public’s trust by failing to report alleged corrupt conduct by an ex-MP while the two were in a secret relationship that lasted for years. 

It has been more than 14 months since Berejiklian last gave public evidence to the ICAC, and several years since corruption investigators began looking at the conduct of her secret partner, former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire. 

The update from the ICAC revealed it had received submissions as recently as October 18. It said the commissioner hired to oversee the probe, Ruth McColl SC, is “continuing her work” in relation to the report. 

“Substantial parts of the report have been drafted,” the statement read. “At the same time, it must be recognised that the report concerns complex matters of law and fact, two public inquiries which proceeded over 30 days, over 2800 pages of transcript, 516 exhibits comprising approximately 10,600 pages and 957 pages of submissions (the last of which were received on October 18 2022).  

“It is necessary that the issues relevant to the investigation are addressed carefully. Ms McColl is working to complete a draft of the report as soon as possible but, given these matters, it is not possible to specify a date by which it will be completed.”

Once McColl finishes drafting the report, it would go through a process of editing and review. 

The commission said McColl was aware of her obligation under the state’s ICAC law to furnish her report as soon as possible. 

It noted several other ongoing investigations, one of which began in 2021 and two from last year, could end up wrapping up around the same time as the Berejiklian probe, known as Operation Keppel.

“The commission will take all available action to ensure there is no delay to the Keppel report caused by any bottleneck that might arise,” it said. 

McColl’s tenure over the probe has been extended several times, and for the past few months she has been engaged as a consultant to finish the work.