Key facts
- Dallas McInerney, chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW, denied wiping evidence from his work phone and iPad via a factory reset.
- McInerney stated a compromised bank account alerted by NAB triggered the factory reset.
- The inquiry is investigating allegations of corruption within the New South Wales Liberals, specifically regarding illegal donations.
- McInerney was asked about arranging a meeting between lobbyist Christian Ellis and federal energy minister Angus Taylor in 2020.
- Messages indicated the "Hume Foundation" or "Hume Forum" raised funds for Taylor and the Liberal Party in his federal seat.
- Catholic Schools paid lobbying companies $265,900 between August 2019 and December 2023.
The chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW, Dallas McInerney, has denied intentionally wiping critical evidence from his work phone and iPad by performing a factory reset. He revealed the reset occurred over the weekend after his bank, NAB, alerted him to a compromised account. McInerney was testifying before the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac), which is investigating allegations of corruption and illegal donations within the New South Wales Liberals.
During Wednesday's hearing, counsel assisting Dr Peggy Dwyer SC suggested McInerney's action was a "transparent attempt to wipe evidence." McInerney countered that he had ample opportunity to destroy evidence earlier if that were his intention, and that the bank alert was the sole trigger. He stated he had the case file number for the banking issue and could share it with the commission.
The inquiry also heard details about McInerney's alleged involvement in facilitating meetings between lobbyist Christian Ellis and Angus Taylor, the federal energy minister at the time. Messages presented suggested McInerney was actively trying to arrange a meeting for Ellis with Taylor, who is an ally in the Liberal party's conservative right faction. Ellis and Jeremy Greenwood, who ran the lobbying company Beckington, were involved in fundraising efforts for an organisation known as the "Hume Foundation" or "Hume Forum," which raised funds for Taylor and the Liberal Party in his federal seat.
Catholic Schools NSW paid Beckington and another firm, JPG Advisory, a total of $265,900 between August 2019 and December 2023 for consulting services. McInerney acknowledged that some messages between him and Reformers, including Ellis, contained "political machinations" but rejected the assertion that most of Beckington's work for Catholic Schools NSW was factional Liberal party business, stating "consulting services were rendered to the company."
McInerney also made disparaging remarks about Liberal MP Melissa McIntosh in messages exchanged with Ellis in April 2020, calling her "Dumb as dog shit." He stated he was a supporter of McIntosh and had written references for her. McInerney had previously stood aside from his role as CEO of Catholic Schools NSW before the Icac hearings commenced.