Texts suggest Angus Taylor ‘paid money to the Reformers … or was refusing to’, Icac inquiry hears
Summary
New South Wales’s anti-corruption agency (Icac) is investigating whether the political group called the Reformers received illegal payments, including possible payments connected to federal opposition leader Angus Taylor. The inquiry examines payments made through a lobbying company and focuses on political donations and factional work within the Liberal party.Key Facts
- Icac is looking into text messages suggesting Angus Taylor may have paid money to the Reformers group or refused to pay.
- Angus Taylor denies making payments to the Reformers.
- The Reformers is described as a hard-right factional group within the Liberal party.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet, brother of former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet, received monthly $5,000 payments from a lobbying company linked to the Reformers but does not remember the reason.
- The lobbying company, Beckington, allegedly issued fake invoices and received money from prohibited donors for factional work.
- Michael O’Hara, a hotelier and prohibited donor, reportedly stopped payments after the Reformers adopted an anti-vaccine stance.
- Branch stacking, recruiting members to influence party opinion, is being investigated but is not illegal itself.
- Former federal Liberal vice-president Teena McQueen may have supported the Reformers with money and venues for events.
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