After an explosive first week of evidence, the Independent Commission Against Corruption starts the second week of its probe into former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday.
First up on the witness list is Peter Minucos, a former adviser to the ex-deputy premier John Barilaro, followed by Mr Barilaro himself.
The ICAC is investigating if Ms Berejiklian was 'liable to allow or encourage the occurrence of corrupt conduct' by former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire, with whom she was in a 'close personal relationship' between 2015 and 2018.
It's also looking into whether she 'exercised her official functions dishonestly or partially' by not reporting any reasonable suspicions about Mr Maguire to the ICAC.
As the inquiry gets closer to Ms Berejiklian's public testimony, which is set to begin on Thursday, the stakes get higher.
Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is set to appear before a corruption probe into her on Thursday
Public servant Chris Hanger told the ICAC last Thursday that Mr Minucos was a key figure in developing a business case for the a facilities upgrade at the Australia Clay Target Association (ACTA).
ACTA is located in Mr Maguire's former electorate of Wagga Wagga and he was a keen backer of it getting state funding of $5.5million.
Ms Berejiklian's relationship with Mr Maguire was a closely guarded secret at the time, and was not disclosed to her colleagues in her then positions of treasurer, initially, followed by becoming premier upon the resignation of Mike Baird in January 2017.
Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro will give evidence to the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Monday
Mr Hanger said Mr Minucos was the 'key contact' and was 'heavily involved in the development of the (ACTA) project, in particular the advice back to the consultants ... in regards to an addendum to the original business case'.
Neither Mr Minucos nor Mr Barilaro are accused of wrongdoing.
Counsel for ICAC Scott Robertson asked if it was 'unusual to have someone in a ministerial office involved in procuring a business case as an addendum to a business case?'
'It's peculiar for them to be involved in advice around that in the way Mr Minucos did,' Mr Hanger answered.
Mr Robertson asked: 'As a longtime public servant with responsibility for procurement of infrastructure, did you regard it as inappropriate that there was the kind of advice ... provided at the political level rather than the agency or departmental level?'
'We indicated that it wasn't ... where or how they should be providing advice,' Mr Hanger said, adding that this view was expressed to Mr Barilaro's office.
Mr Hanger then worked for a regional NSW agency which sat under the Department of Premier and Cabinet and whose relevant minister was Mr Barilaro.
Last week's evidence was at times excruciating, not least for the former premier, who again saw her private and public life scrutinised in minute detail.
Most galling of all for the former premier, is that none of this was necessary.
If she had declared there was a potential conflict of interest in her relationship with Mr Maguire, she could have recused herself from funding meetings concerning projects of interest to him.
She had previously declared that two of her cousins worked for the NSW public service and also disclosed meeting someone at a function.
Declaring a potential conflict of interest was also something the then state premier Mike Baird expected and called for at every cabinet meeting, as ICAC heard last week.
ICAC assisting counsel Scott Robertson will question former NSW National Party leader John Barilaro
Ms Berejiklian first appeared before ICAC more than a year ago.
On Monday, October 12, 2020, she told
