Sham “consultancy” payments from Catholic Schools NSW to a secretive hard-right arm of the Liberal Party increased by the same amount as Angus Taylor allegedly agreed to pay.
Yesterday the Independent Commission Against Corruption was shown a text message alleging the now Opposition leader had agreed to pay a $3,000 monthly retainer to the “NSW Reformers”.
In explosive evidence, it has now emerged payments to the group increased by $3,000 a month shortly afterwards.
Taylor yesterday repeatedly stated he had not paid any money to NSW Reformers.
Dallas McInerney, boss of Catholic Schools NSW — which runs almost 600 schools in the state — allegedly funnelled money to NSW Reformers as sham “consultancy” fees, the ICAC has heard.
It is alleged McInerney paid $3,000 a month to an entity called Beckington for “lobbying” work for the Catholic Schools NSW.
In fact, the money was allegedly being used to fund the work of NSW Reformers, a secretive group of young Catholic Liberal Party members seeking to stack party branches with right-wing members.
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Michael O’Hara fronts the first day of ICAC hearings yesterday. Source: The Klaxon
The ICAC was yesterday shown a text message by NSW Reformers member Dylan Whitelaw, stating that Taylor had told McInerney he would pay NSW Reformers $15,000 and a $3,000 monthly retainer.
Shortly afterwards, in February 2021, the monthly payments from McInerney’s Catholic Schools NSW to Beckington increased from $3,000 a month to $6,000 a month.
ICAC council assisting Juliet Curtin questioned Whitelaw this morning.
“In messages (shown) yesterday, you suggested Mr McInerney had a meeting with Angus Taylor and the result was Angus Taylor would give $15,000 and then a monthly retainer of $3,000,” Curtin said.
“Are you able to say whether there’s a connection between the monthly amount that Angus Taylor had indicated to Mr McInerney that he’s prepared to make, and the corresponding increase, or appears to be an increase, that happened at the same time in the amount that Catholic Schools NSW was paying to Beckington?”
Whitelaw responded: “No, I wouldn’t be able to talk to that”.
When questioned by media this morning, Taylor repeatedly denied making any payment to NSW Reformers.
“No payment was made,” he said.
The Opposition leader dodged the question when asked whether he had ever been asked to give money to the NSW Reformers, or whether he had been aware of the group and its activities.
Yesterday Whitelaw told the inquiry that Taylor was not only aware of the work of the NSW Reformers but that he had personal “been in touch” with Taylor to keep him updated.
Whitelaw was asked whether Taylor was “aware of the work the Reformers were doing?”.
He replied: “Indeed”.
Whitelaw was asked: “Is it also the case that you were personally in touch with Mr Taylor about Reformers work?”
“Yes, I believe I was,” Whitelaw responded.
Taylor said he had not been approached by the ICAC and was “not a party to the proceedings”.
ICAC’s Operation Rosny is investigating illegal political donations allegedly involving Liberal Party operatives, Catholic Schools NSW and fugitive developer Jean Nassif.
The hearings continue.
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Anthony Klan
Editor, The Klaxon
