Ms Berejiklian responded that the sealing of the highway was a longstanding government commitment first mooted by a Broken Hill MP as far back as 1999.
She noted there was bipartisan support for the sealing of the highway in a recommendation from an upper house committee in 2011 and 2012 and the issue was again raised at a Western Division Councils meeting in 2014.
Mr Searle blasted the remarks as totally irrelevant.
What are you hiding Premier and why wont you answer the question? he said.
Mr Searle put it to Ms Berejiklian that the governments funding for the road resealing project had escalated significantly after Mr Maguire purchased the Ivanhoe properties and as Treasurer Ms Berejiklian had input over funding decisions.
He questioned whether she disclosed her relationship with Mr Maguire before making funding decisions about the highway.
You made the decision to fund a project that would benefit your boyfriend, that is the truth isnt it? he said.
That is a disgusting proposition, Ms Berejiklian shot back.
To suggest anything inappropriate happened here is completely wrong, offensive and frankly laughable.
Ms Berejiklian added that it was not unusual for MPs to accompany country councils to meetings with government officials.
Mr Searle grilled Ms Berejiklian over when she learnt that Mr Maguire owned the Ivanhoe properties.
I cannot confirm that I knew that, Ms Berejiklian answered.
Mr Searle pointed to transcripts of a phone call intercepted by ICAC in 2017 in which Mr Maguire mentioned his proposal to turn the Ivanhoe houses into Airbnbs to Ms Berejiklian.
Mr Searle if youre reading from a transcript which is in the possession of the integrity agency I would ask you to be extremely careful, Ms Berejiklian said.
You should allow the integrity agency to do their work.
As I said, the integrity agency has not put any accusation of wrongdoing to me.
Premier, youre simply flannelling, youre not answering the question, Mr Searle said.
ICACs Operation Keppel is investigating Mr Maguire for secretly using his position as an MP to tout for business with property developers between 2012 and 2018.
Ms Berejiklian was embroiled in the scandal last October when she revealed to the ICAC that she was in a close personal relationship with Mr Maguire for several years, including after he was forced to quit Parliament.
On Tuesday the ICAC released a statement announcing the inquiry would be extended for the second time while it continues its investigations.