NSW Liberal leader defers decision on frontbencher Damien Tudehope after leak revelations at Icac
Summary
The New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) is investigating whether a conservative group within the Liberal Party, including Jean-Claude Perrottet, solicited or accepted illegal donations. NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane has delayed any decision on the future of frontbencher Damien Tudehope, who admitted to leaking a confidential report during the inquiry.Key Facts
- Jean-Claude Perrottet, brother of former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, appeared before Icac as part of an investigation into illegal donations and branch stacking in the NSW Liberal Party.
- Branch stacking involves recruiting members to party branches to influence internal votes; it is not illegal but is under scrutiny.
- Damien Tudehope, NSW shadow attorney general and Liberal leader in the upper house, admitted leaking a confidential draft report from a parliamentary inquiry in February 2023.
- Sloane has removed Tudehope from his shadow cabinet roles during the Icac inquiry but will wait until the inquiry finishes before making further decisions.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet worked for Tudehope in 2018-2019 and admitted to doing faction-related recruitment work during office hours.
- The Reformers are a conservative faction in the NSW Liberal Party, advocating for stricter policies on issues like same-sex marriage and abortion, and they aim to recruit members who share their views.
- Evidence includes messages suggesting placing members into branches controlled by rival factions and soliciting large donations to influence party preselections.
- The investigation includes allegations of trying to unseat a federal MP from a different faction within the party.
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