Key facts
- Robert Assaf, co-founder of the Reformers, testified before the Icac regarding alleged illegal donations and branch-stacking.
- Assaf compared the internal Liberal party factionalism to 'warring kingdoms' in Braveheart.
- He admitted the Reformers believed electoral laws did not apply to their internal party recruitment efforts.
- Assaf claimed Angus Taylor was aware of and supportive of the Reformers' activities.
- A plan to recruit 5,000 Christian conservative members to control the NSW Liberal party was discussed.
Robert Assaf, a co-founder of the conservative Liberal faction known as the Reformers, has testified before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) regarding allegations of illegal donations and branch-stacking. Assaf compared the internal factional struggles within the NSW Liberal party to 'warring kingdoms' depicted in the film Braveheart. He admitted that the Reformers group, which sought more conservative policies on social issues, believed electoral laws did not apply to their internal party recruitment activities. Assaf stated that the group's primary aim was policy change, with increasing membership being a means to that end. He also claimed that federal opposition leader Angus Taylor and former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet were aware of and supportive of the Reformers' work, though not directly involved in any wrongdoing. The inquiry heard that figures like Tony Abbott and Damien Tudehope had engaged with the Reformers by giving talks at their events. A plan to recruit 5,000 Christian conservative members to gain control of the NSW Liberal party division was also revealed during Assaf's testimony.