Today 28 October 2021, Darryl MacGuire, ex ‘close personal friend’ of Gladys Berejiklian, ex premier of NSW and soon to be ex – MP, will give evidence to a Royal Commission into his corruption.
Much of this behaviour he has admitted. His personal behaviour with those he interacted was described as that of an arsehole.
thc has mocked along, taking delight in the minutiae of the QC’s surgical precision in crafting questions, ending most examinations with the phrase,
‘Would you have done any of the things you have described in evidence any differently had you known of the close personal relationship between the premier and MacGuire’.
Invariably they answer that they would.
Ms B’s chief of staff, a friend since uni days, said she knew of the relationship back in 2017, but that Ms B, construed the relationship as past and being historical.
The CoS went onto say that when she learned that the relationship had continued for for some two years until October 2020, she was shocked and went on to say,
“Gladys is an intensely personal person.’
Glady’s confession in 2017 was possibly prompted when as a new premier she was forced to sack Darryl for behaviour which led to this Royal Commission. Nevertheless she continued with her ‘ close personal relationship’ with him. Strangely worded huh?
Got me thinkin’.
Ms. B’s counsel has a rough road to hoe. The litany of evidence forensically uncovered a pretty picture does not make. But it all presumes that apart from a few taped conversations where Gladys tells Darryl she is not interested in hearing about his little schemes she knew not nor cared what the heck he was up to. She was in love and had thought of a life together after marriage. There are no pillow talk exchanges the public have been privy too.
Maybe, in this early part of the 21st Century she was ‘saving herself’ for her matrimonial bedding.
So here’s the thing.
Why not make the Clinton defense and ask,
“Did you have sex with that man?’
Everyone has presumed she’s ‘done it’.
And its perhaps immaterial if she has. But her quaint words on resigning, have that Clintonesque twist to them.
‘ I state categorically, I have always acted with the highest level of integrity. History will demonstrate that I have always executed my duties with the highest degree of integrity for the benefit of the people of NSW who I have had the privilege to serve.’
I don’t doubt she has acted as described.
And she never disclosed the ‘close personal relationship’. Perhaps in her world, acting with the highest standards blah blah only included ‘intimate relations.’
Legally a moot point I suspect. It was likewise the case for Clinton. In his world fellatio did not constitute sex. Penetration did. Could it be in Gladys world she never crossed the Clinton line? Just a little nookie, a hand hold, a hand on knee. All very thrilling but not meeting her high ethical high, the standards by which she publicly served?
I’m suspecting her naivete was manipulated by Darryl for his own ends. He was adrift mate wise after his own acrimonious divorce. Publicly he was the life of the party.
We await Darryl today, then two days of Gladys on the stand.
I accept I’ll be viewing the livestream differently than before. Perhaps more empathetically.
And gosh, this has all the elements for a great ten part podcast!
Editor’s note : thehobartchinaman acknowledges the limited interest in this topic for overseas readers. My guess is that it’s likewise of marginally more interest to Aussie readers.
Oh well so be it, back to the six hours of livestream, to be found at https://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/investigations/live-streaming-of-public-inquiries/operation-keppel-live-stream
when the commission is in session from 10am – 4pm AEDT
The Hobart Chinaman 
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