Gladys Berejiklian Shane Fitzsimmons coffee Sydney before ICAC evidence from ...

Gladys Berejiklian Shane Fitzsimmons coffee Sydney before ICAC evidence from ...
Gladys Berejiklian Shane Fitzsimmons coffee Sydney before ICAC evidence from ...

They tackled the black summer bushfires together and now Gladys Berejiklian has turned to an old friend as she faces a new crisis.

The former NSW premier was pictured having coffee with respected former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons and his wife Lisa in Sydney on Monday - while just a few hundred metres away the Independent Commission Against Corruption prepared to hear evidence from her from former deputy premier John Barilaro.  

Ms Berejiklian struck up a strong bond with Mr Fitzsimmons during Sydney's 'summer from hell' in 2019-2020 and made time for a coffee with a mate as the ICAC probe that saw her resign as premier entered a second week.

After an explosive first week of evidence, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has begun the second week of its investigation into Ms Berejiklian, who will be called to give evidence later this week. 

Peter Minucos, a former adviser to the ex-deputy premier John Barilaro, is giving evidence and will be followed by former Nationals leader and Deputy Premier Mr Barilaro himself. 

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured right) has coffee on Monday morning with former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons (with back to camera) and his wife Lisa in Sydney's Strand Arcade

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured right) has coffee on Monday morning with former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons (with back to camera) and his wife Lisa in Sydney's Strand Arcade

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian leaves her house on Sydney's leafy north shore on Monday morning

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian leaves her house on Sydney's leafy north shore on Monday morning

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 (pictured left) will give evidence to the ICAC on Thursday and Friday

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured left) will give evidence to the ICAC on Thursday and Friday

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured left) has coffee on Monday morning with former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons (right) and his wife Lisa (with her back to camera)

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured left) has coffee on Monday morning with former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons (right) and his wife Lisa (with her back to camera)

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured right) on Monday morning in Sydney with former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons (with back to camera) and his wife Lisa

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured right) on Monday morning in Sydney with former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons (with back to camera) and his wife Lisa

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. 

On Monday morning, Mr Minucos was asked by ICAC counsel Scott Robertson if he understood the money for ACTA was guaranteed by January 2017, or contingent on that business case.

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured centre) deep in conversation with former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons (right) and his wife Lisa (centre)

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured centre) deep in conversation with former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons (right) and his wife Lisa (centre)

Gladys Berejiklian walks to a coffee date in Sydney's CBD on Monday morning

Gladys Berejiklian walks to a coffee date in Sydney's CBD on Monday morning

Peter Minucos at the Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in Sydney on Monday. The ICAC's Operation Keppel is holding hearings into whether former premier Gladys Berejiklian breached public trust

Peter Minucos at the Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in Sydney on Monday. The ICAC's Operation Keppel is holding hearings into whether former premier Gladys Berejiklian breached public trust

He said it was a 'bit of both' and it was a 'fine line in my mind at the time'. 

The funds were to come from Restart NSW, which required a business to cost (BCR) ratio above one to be demonstrated for the funds to be paid. 

Last week, 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.

Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro (left) arrives at the Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in Sydney on Monday

Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro (left) arrives at the Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in Sydney on Monday

Mr 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

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