Four years after allegations raised, ICAC begins its most Augean task

Four years after Liberal backbencher Ray Williams used a private members’ statement to claim that party colleagues were involved in systemic corruption, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has announced a public inquiry into fugitive Sydney property developer Jean Nassif’s links to significant Liberal Party figures.

ICAC’s far-reaching investigation will traverse politics, education, development and local government. It is one of the watchdog’s biggest undertakings since a Liberal-National Coalition government created it 38 years ago.

ICAC confirmed that the chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW, Dallas McInerney, Nassif, hotelier and banned political donor Michael O’Hara and certain Strathfield councillors would feature in the long-awaited inquiry.

In a statement, ICAC said it would examine whether Liberal Party figures, including Christian Ellis, Jeremy Greenwood, Robert Assaf and Jean-Claude Perrottet (a younger brother of former premier Dominic Perrottet) had solicited or accepted political donations from prohibited donors, in amounts that were not declared as part of a scheme to recruit party members or renew memberships.

It will examine whether undeclared political donations, exceeding donation caps and approved by McInerney, were made by Catholic Schools NSW, which runs the state’s Catholic school system.

ICAC will also investigate whether between 2020 and 2023, political donations were made by or on behalf of Nassif and his company, Toplace, which are prohibited donors under the Electoral Funding Act 2018 (NSW) and were “solicited or accepted” by Ellis, Greenwood and Charles Perrottet, another brother of the former premier.

It has been alleged that the donations were aimed at damaging the political career of the former Liberal MP and police minister David Elliott and the removal of the then-building commissioner, David Chandler OAM, from public office.

ICAC also alleged that two Strathfield Labor councillors, Sharangan Maheswaran and Karen Pensabene, engaged in conduct towards a fellow councillor that could breach public trust or involve blackmail.

Premier Chris Minns plans to request the pair be suspended from the ALP. McInerney has quit the influential board of the state’s curriculum and assessment authority, although there was no word from the Catholic Archbishop, Anthony Fisher, or the Catholic Schools NSW board on Wednesday about whether he would remain CEO.

A Liberal Party spokesman would only say it was inappropriate “to comment on a current active ICAC inquiry” and that members were expected to meet high standards.

Such intransigence is risible, especially when the inquiry shapes as a huge blow to the Liberals.

This inquiry, which is due to begin at the end of the month and run for a mammoth eight weeks, will have far-reaching consequences. It will examine relationships between developers and councils. It will examine donations from, and the conduct of, influential and well-connected Liberal Party figures. It is likely to probe Catholic school finances, which have long been hidden from public view.

It will do all this against the backdrop of a looming state election, in which the NSW Liberal Party was already fighting an uphill battle after what can only been described as a lacklustre three and a half years in opposition.

The Herald has reported on many allegations involved in the new inquiry. We have long been a proud supporter of ICAC’s role and welcome the watchdog’s newest endeavour to expose corruption and protect the NSW democratic process.

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