Key facts
- A hotelier, Michael O’Hara, told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) he was disgusted by the NSW Liberal 'Reformers' scheme.
- O’Hara allegedly made prohibited donations totaling $165,000 to the 'Reformers' between 2018 and 2023.
- The 'Reformers' allegedly solicited illegal donations to support branch stacking efforts to move the party to the conservative right.
- O’Hara admitted making payments to a lobbyist and a company controlled by Jean-Claude Perrottet, brother of former Liberal premier Dominic Perrottet, for branch-stacking efforts.
- O’Hara allegedly believed that Dominic Perrottet and Scott Morrison had "gone woke".
A hotelier told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) that he was "disgusted" by the NSW Liberal 'Reformers' scheme and admitted he "made a mistake" in supporting the group, allegedly through prohibited donations. Michael O’Hara, who is prohibited from making political donations due to his involvement in the liquor industry, stated he paid $165,000 to the Reformers between 2018 and 2023.
O’Hara admitted to making payments to a registered lobbyist and a company controlled by Jean-Claude Perrottet, brother of former Liberal premier Dominic Perrottet, under the guise of financial advice or consulting services. These payments were intended to support branch-stacking efforts within Liberal branches in NSW.
The inquiry heard that O’Hara believed the NSW Liberals under Dominic Perrottet had become "woke", and that federal leader Scott Morrison had also "gone woke". O’Hara expressed his belief that Dominic Perrottet was either agreeing with "woke crap" or was too weak to control it, indicating a loss of "spine".
In separate allegations, counsel assisting the commission, Peggy Dwyer SC, stated that evidence would show the Reformers anticipated receiving $2 million from fugitive property developer Jean Nassif in exchange for desired outcomes. The inquiry also heard of legally intercepted phone calls where Nassif allegedly claimed he had paid for the removal of the building commissioner, David Chandler, and that the fair trading minister would be "one of my girls".
Dominic Perrottet and Eleni Petinos, who was appointed minister of fair trading two months after the call, are not accused of any wrongdoing. David Chandler was later cleared of any wrongdoing after an investigation requested by Petinos. Jean Nassif has fled Australia and denied any wrongdoing.