An ongoing high-stakes anti-corruption investigation into the upper ranks of New South Wales’ Liberal Party has thrust Australian Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor into the spotlight, after his name was linked to alleged prohibited factional donations during public hearings this week.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), New South Wales’ top anti-corruption watchdog, launched an eight-week probe into claims that a coordinated conservative faction calling itself “the Reformers” actively solicited and accepted unlawful political donations — including from prohibited sources — to pack party branches with ideologically aligned members and shift the state party’s overall policy direction. Named as persons of interest in the scheme are Jean-Claude Perrottet, brother of former New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet, alongside three influential Liberal Party powerbrokers: Christian Ellis, Jeremy Greenwood and Robert Assaf.
The inquiry’s most recent development came when former Liberal Party member Dylan Whitelaw, who also previously worked for Catholic Schools New South Wales, told the hearing on Tuesday that he had shared a message in a private group chat for the Reformers claiming that former Catholic Schools NSW CEO Dallas McInerney had secured a commitment from Taylor for a $15,000 one-time donation plus a recurring $3,000 monthly contribution to the faction. Whitelaw has since walked back that claim, telling the inquiry on Wednesday he has no independent recollection of Taylor actually making any such payment, admitting that “potentially Dallas had told me something that was incorrect.” He added that he would be “very surprised” if Taylor had contributed financially to the group, though he could not rule out non-financial assistance from the opposition leader off the top of his head.
Counsel assisting the inquiry Juliet Curtin however flagged evidence that Whitelaw personally secured Taylor’s support to speak at a Reformers-aligned event in Goulburn that Whitelaw organized. A message Whitelaw sent to the Reformers group chat, unearthed during the hearing, reads: “FYI Angus Taylor locked in for an event in Goulburn, will confirm a date for it tomorrow. Hopefully the beginning of our work in the southern country.” Whitelaw told the inquiry he has no memory of arranging the event.
Taylor, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the inquiry, issued a flat denial of all donation allegations during a press appearance in Queensland on Wednesday. “I’m not a party to the proceedings. No payment was made,” he said. When asked whether he would agree to testify as a witness if called by ICAC, Taylor noted that the commission had not reached out to him, and declined to comment on hypothetical scenarios. “I haven’t been approached by the commission and I’m not going to give a running commentary,” he added. A spokesperson for Taylor issued a similar statement a day earlier, saying the inquiry “should be allowed to run their course free from political interference or commentary” and that all donations and fundraising activity are properly declared per existing rules, falling under the jurisdiction of the party itself.
Beyond the factional donation claims involving Taylor, the sprawling eight-week inquiry is also investigating multiple other serious allegations. These include ties between the accused group and fugitive property developer Jean Nassif, who is accused of funneling donations to undermine the political career of sitting Liberal MP David Elliott and force the removal of Building Commissioner David Chandler. The inquiry is also examining donations from prominent NSW hotelier Michael O’Hara and from McInerney, who stepped down from his role at Catholic Schools NSW after the allegations emerged. Catholic Schools NSW has stated it had no knowledge of McInerney’s alleged actions.
The probe is also investigating claims that two Labor councillors for the NSW district of Strathfield — Sharangan Maheswaran, an employee of Nassif, and Karen Pensabene — breached public trust, allegedly engaging in blackmail and violating state surveillance device laws. Maheswaran is specifically accused of helping Nassif discredit Chandler, and of using the same private investigator hired by Nassif to build a “dirt file” on independent rival councillor Matthew Blackmore, threatening professional retaliation if Blackmore did not comply with his demands.
Notably, ICAC does not have the authority to make formal findings of criminal conduct. Once the public hearings conclude, the commission will refer individuals and cases to the New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions if it finds sufficient evidence of criminality. To date, neither Dominic Perrottet, Taylor, nor any other individual named in the allegations has been found guilty of wrongdoing; the inquiry is currently testing the veracity of the claims brought forward.