Corruption inquiry reveals how young conservative activists tried to take over NSW Liberal Party

The New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Monday began its Operation Rosny hearings into allegations of corruption within the NSW Liberal Party.

Counsel assisting the commission, Peggy Dwyer, outlined three allegations under investigation. One involves Liberal figures who “solicited or accepted” donations, including from prohibited donors, in undeclared amounts or exceeding caps, to recruit or renew party members – a practice known as “branch stacking.”

Dwyer identified a core group of young conservative activists calling themselves the “Reformers,” including lobbyist Christian Ellis, consultant Robert Assaf, and Jean-Claude Perrottet, the younger brother of former Liberal premier Dominic Perrottet. Another lobbyist, Jeremy Greenwood, allegedly facilitated their receipt of funds.

Dwyer said evidence would show “a number of senior politicians in the NSW Liberal party supported the work of the Reformers,” including by speaking at their events. Guest speakers included former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott, broadcaster Alan Jones, and Catholic Schools NSW CEO Dallas McInerney, focusing on conservative or religious issues.

A document created while Ellis worked in federal Nationals senator Matt Canavan’s office “set out the mission of the NSW Reformers as, I quote: ‘taking back our nation through good government’,” Dwyer said. It proposed recruiting 5,000 Christian conservatives to join NSW Liberal branches, thereby taking control of the party’s NSW division. The plan aimed for every winnable seat at state elections to be held by the conservative faction, controlling 75% of the party’s state executive and 60% of its state council.

Abbott, Jones, and Canavan are not accused of any wrongdoing. Dwyer noted that while branch stacking is not inherently corrupt, “the problem is when those funds come from prohibited political donations, which exceed the applicable cap, and/or come from a prohibited donor.”

A second allegation involves fugitive property developer Jean Nassif and his company Toplace, accused of making prohibited donations between 2020 and 2023 in exchange for favorable outcomes. These allegations first emerged in a 2022 parliamentary speech by Liberal MP Ray Williams.

The third allegation concerns two Labor Strathfield councillors accused of dishonest conduct, including possible blackmail and breaches of surveillance laws.

The hearings are expected to last at least eight weeks. Hotelier Michael O’Hara testified as the first witness on Monday.