I was joking about it yesterday. Shouldn’t have:
Disgraced Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire hosted a press conference inside NSW Parliament with a key United Front official from China to promote propaganda on Tibet.
…Mr Maguire told ICAC he was first approached by Chinese property developer Country Garden for help with “opportunities” at an event held by a Chinese charitable organisation, adding, “Whenever you went to a function there were always conversations.”
But he cited to ICAC the example of the Eyes on China program, which was run by the Australia Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China. The ACPPRC has been embroiled in the debate over Chinese Communist Party influence in Australia and is believed to be a United Front body.
Mr Maguire was an advisor to the ACPPRC, and as chairman of the NSW Parliament Asia Pacific Friendship Group, appeared to become a link to the NSW Parliament for United Front, a powerful Chinese Communist Party organisation that oversees minority religions and tries to harness support among overseas Chinese.
The Liberal Party is a joke in response:
The Liberals see spending money to fight for a safe seat just months before costly state and federal campaigns as a monumental waste.
But for their Coalition partner, a byelection could be a huge opportunity. The agreement means the Nationals cannot run in Wagga in March so a byelection is their chance to wrestle the seat from the Liberals. And they want it badly.
…The Premier, who is on her mid-year holiday, issued a statement over the weekend asking Maguire to “think carefully” about his future. But Maguire is digging his heels in.
Senior National figures think Gladys Berejiklian should do more than just issue a sternly-worded statement. She can’t force him out, but they say she should be stamping her foot and demanding his resignation.
“Gladys needs to show strong leadership, step outside her comfort zone and do more than just a tap on the shoulder,” one senior source said. “She needs him gone.”
Australia needs you gone, mate. Now.
