‘Rob has the bucks cash’: NSW Liberals used Reformers funds to pay for ‘personal expenditure’, Icac hears
Summary
A corruption inquiry in New South Wales, Australia, is investigating a group of young conservative Liberal party members called the Reformers for allegedly using illegal donations and branch stacking, which means recruiting or renewing party members improperly. One member admitted that some of the group’s funds were used for personal events like a bucks night and that money was moved through a lobbying company to gain tax benefits.Key Facts
- The Reformers are a young conservative group within the Liberal Party in New South Wales.
- They are accused of seeking illegal donations to boost party membership, known as branch stacking.
- Funds from a donor, Michael O’Hara, were moved through Beckington, a lobbying firm linked to the group, to avoid taxes.
- Robert Assaf, a member of the Reformers, admitted using group funds temporarily for a bucks night (a party before a wedding).
- Some payments were allegedly approved by the Catholic Schools NSW chief executive, Dallas McInerney, to support branch stacking.
- The inquiry examined whether federal opposition leader Angus Taylor knew about or supported the Reformers; he denied any involvement or payments.
- The inquiry is led by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac), which investigates corruption in NSW.
- Assaf described the use of funds for personal spending as immature behavior at the time.
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