NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s new boyfriend has been given the seal of approval by her senior cabinet colleagues.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott posted on LinkedIn to sing the praises of high-profile lawyer Arthur Moses, SC, who has recently started seeing the Premier.
“So let’s recap. He’s a Parra[matta] supporter, a westie, a Liberal and a Reservist,” he said. “My boss has hooked up with the perfect bloke!”
When Watts McCray partner Justin Dowd remarked that Mr Elliott had forgotten to mention Mr Moses was also a lawyer. “You mean ‘despite’,” a tongue-in-cheek Mr Elliott replied.
Ms Berejiklian’s relationship with Mr Moses was revealed in an Instagram post on Friday night by her younger sister Mary. The Premier and Mr Moses are pictured facing each other on a sofa, which is captioned: “After work Friday feels with these two. Glad and her boo.”
Ms Berejiklian’s office confirmed the pair had “recently begun spending private time together”.
Mr Moses was the Premier’s lawyer when she appeared before an Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry last year into her former boyfriend and former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire.
She revealed she had been in a “close personal relationship” with Mr Maguire for five years, but it had ended in 2020.
Ms Berejiklian said the relationship was not of significant note but later told a gossip columnist in a Sunday newspaper that she had loved Mr Maguire and had hoped to marry him.
A spokesman for Ms Berejiklian confirmed taxpayers’ money was not used to pay Mr Moses while he represented the Premier at ICAC. The ICAC inquiry into Mr Maguire is ongoing and the Premier is not under investigation.
Mr Moses was married to lawyer Sylvia Moses and has a son, Nicholas, who is also a lawyer.
Mr Moses is currently representing Ben Roberts-Smith in a high-profile defamation trial against Nine newspapers, including The Sydney Morning Herald.
Other senior NSW Liberal politicians also offered their best wishes to the happy couple, including Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello. “They are both people of immense integrity and esteem. They’re the perfect match,” he said.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said: “I wish them well. A happy Premier makes for a happy Treasurer.”
Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean said he was happy that “two of the best people I know” had found each other.
Asked about Mr Elliott’s list of desirable qualities in a partner, such as “westie” and “Reservist”, Mr Kean said: “I personally wouldn’t look for those attributes on a Tinder profile, but David has different tastes to me.”
“However, I think they are two of the most amazing people I know and I’m so happy they’ve found each other,” he said.
Sport and Multiculturalism Minister Natalie Ward simply said: “I’m very happy for her.”
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/my- ... 582g3.html
