Everyone Is Laughing At A Disgraced MP’s Ridiculous Excuse For ‘Losing’ All His Phones
The ICAC investigation heard that Daryl Maguire's potentially incriminating phones (and iPad) were destroyed by a tractor. Oops!
The current ICAC investigation into how deep former NSW MP Daryl Maguire’s corruption went has unearthed its fair share of revelations. Among the most eyebrow-raising was the news that Maguire’s potentially incriminating phones and iPad were destroyed in a ‘tractor accident’. Happens to the best of us.
For those who haven’t been following the minutiae of NSW’s current ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) investigation, this one centres on Maguire, who resigned as Wagga Wagga MP in 2018 over allegations he had helped assist Chinese developers in exchange for a kickback. Now, ICAC is investigating further into Maguire’s potential misuse of his MP position for his own financial benefit, which included a cash-for-visas scheme.
Maguire is facing the ICAC today where he’s already, at time of publishing, admitted his MP office was monetised for his own personal business, G8Way International. You can follow along on the Guardian‘s live-blog.
But the ‘tractor’ story came on Tuesday, as ICAC heard from Maguire’s business partner Maggie Wang that in 2018 he had previously recommended she delete messages. And he insinuated he had done similarly, mentioning an “unfortunate accident where my phones and iPad have been run over by a tractor”. It was after this that Wang realised she too should be deleting messages, she told ICAC.
Of course, everyone following along with the scandal was soon tweeting out jokes about the tractor accidentally destroying incriminating messages across at least three separate devices. Oops!
For many, it was the iPad that really stuck out: who takes one on a tractor ride?
To lose an iphone to an "unfortunate accident with a tractor" may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose an ipad as well looks like… https://t.co/TxEZQkIR18
— Greg Jericho (@GrogsGamut) October 13, 2020
yeah mate sorry left all four of me phones and an iPad out in the paddock and ran em over a few times with a tractor by accident pic.twitter.com/vsJD7EYq9Y
— Jack Donohue (@jckdnh) October 13, 2020
I know whenever I want to take the tractor out for a spin the first thing I do is make sure I’ve got my iPad with me.
— John Birmingham (@JohnBirmingham) October 13, 2020
To be fair, it’s such a ludicrous story that it’s almost stranger than fiction. It’s entirely possible Maguire’s iPad and multiple phones were destroyed in a tractor accident. But still, what a line.
who can honestly say that they haven’t also accidentally run over their phones and iPad with a tractor at least once in their lives pic.twitter.com/dfPvQzPwgt
— James (@tolstythoughts) October 13, 2020
GLADYS: Why haven’t you been returning my calls, Daz?
DARYL: I ran over my phone with my tractor
GLADYS: Oh, okay. Seems legit. And my emails? Surely your iPad…
DARYL: Tractor https://t.co/cg6YHUCjpu
— Jake Watt (@JakeChatty) October 13, 2020
tfw you hear the unmistakeable crunch of an iPad and iPhone under the wheels of your tractor pic.twitter.com/N0OGUh9ggq
— henno (@jrhennessy) October 13, 2020
Q: this way it will look like an accident
— jon “airships” kudelka (@jonkudelka) October 13, 2020
As Tony Martin points out, we need a dramatic reenactment of the device destruction. May we suggest it appear in the inevitable ABC mini-series this ICAC inspires in 5-10 years? And that Asher Keddie plays an overworked ICAC official desperate to cut to the core of corruption?
Follow along with ICAC revelations on The Guardian, and be sure to secure your devices before your next tractor ride.
Later today, it’s expected that NSW state premier Gladys Berejiklian will face two no-confidence motions in parliament over her previously secret 5-year relationship with Maguire, which she revealed on Monday. It’s unclear whether the relationship impacted her job, though her meeting with two convicted criminals in Wagga Wagga over gambling policies has come under close scrutiny.
Currently, Berejiklian has said she will not resign, leading the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party to say they will refuse to support government legislation in the meantime — essentially freezing parliament until either Berejiklian is cleared of wrong-doing, or leaves parliament.