‘Scott and Damien are afraid’: senior Liberal quizzed at Icac about former staffer’s message
Summary
A senior New South Wales Liberal politician, Damien Tudehope, gave evidence to a corruption inquiry investigating alleged illegal political donations linked to recruitment activities within the party. The inquiry focuses on whether people connected to a conservative faction called the Reformers sought or accepted illegal donations to recruit or renew party members, a practice called branch stacking.Key Facts
- Damien Tudehope is the NSW shadow attorney general and Liberal leader in the upper house.
- The Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) is investigating alleged illegal donations linked to the Reformers faction.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet, brother of former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, worked as a staffer for Tudehope and was described as talented at recruiting new party members.
- Branch stacking means recruiting or renewing party members in large numbers to influence internal party decisions; it is not illegal by itself.
- Tudehope is not accused of wrongdoing but has stepped aside from his shadow cabinet roles during the inquiry.
- Evidence showed Tudehope possibly made payments for Reformers events and introduced other Reformers to a donor involved in liquor and gambling industries.
- The inquiry also examined messages suggesting fear or concern about enforcement of party rules and spending ministerial time on recruitment.
- Dominic Perrottet has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the investigation.
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