Daryl Maguire


Daryl William Maguire is a former Australian politician who was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Wagga Wagga for the Liberal Party from 1999 to 2018. On 30 March 2011, Maguire was appointed to Government Whip in the O'Farrell-Stoner Liberal/National coalition government. On 13 July 2018, Maguire quit the Liberal Party after admitting at a corruption inquiry that he had sought payment over a property deal. He resigned from Parliament on 3 August 2018.

Early years and background

Maguire has an extensive involvement with local community organisations. He is married with two children. Prior to his election to parliament, Maguire worked as a local store proprietor and franchisee.

Political career

Maguire was elected to represent Wagga Wagga in 1999 following the retirement of long-standing member, Joe Schipp. Maguire held the seat comfortably whilst in opposition. In 2003, he was elected Opposition Whip and, after the 2011 state election, became Government Whip.
At the 2011 state election, Maguire was challenged by Dr Joe McGirr, a local doctor and Director of the Emergency Department at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. Maguire suffered a swing against the Liberal Party of 5.5 points, although won the seat comfortably with 52.5 per cent of the two-party vote.
In July 2018, Maguire was drawn into an inquiry by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption regarding possible corruption involving the former Canterbury Council, through his association with former councillor Michael Hawatt. It was alleged that Maguire had acted on behalf of a "mega big" Chinese client, asking for help in buying into development-approved projects, in return for a commission from the developer for both himself and Hawatt. As a consequence, Maguire resigned from the Liberal Party, and from his roles Parliamentary Secretary for the Centenary of ANZAC, Counter Terrorism, Corrections and Veterans. After initially refusing to resign from Parliament, he announced he would do so before its next sitting. Maguire tendered his resignation to the Speaker of the Legislative of Assembly on the afternoon of 3 August 2018. At the ensuing by-election held on 3 September, the Liberals lost almost half of their primary vote from 2015, allowing independent Joe McGirr to end the Liberals' 61-year hold on Wagga Wagga.