Australian politician sought to broker Chinese deals in Pacific islands, inquiry hears

FILE PHOTO: A supplied screengrab obtained October 12, 2020 shows New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian giving evidence during the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption hearings for inquiry into former Wagga MP Daryl Maguire concerning allegations of "breach of public trust to improperly gain a benefit" in Sydney, Australia. AAP Image/ICAC via REUTERS

SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian politician who was in a secret relationship with the premier of the country's biggest state economy sought to broker deals and set up government meetings for Chinese businessmen wanting to establish a casino and businesses in the Pacific islands, a corruption inquiry was told on Tuesday.

Daryl Maguire, offered to set up meetings with the Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea and Samoa for the head of a Shenzhen business association, according to telephone intercepts and messages shown in the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry.