Arabic version: تسمية تايلور في تحقيق هيئة مكافحة الفساد في نيو ساوث ويلز بشأن «الإصلاحيين»

According to The Guardian, federal Liberal leader Angus Taylor was named as a potential donor to the conservative NSW Liberal group known as the Reformers during an Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing. Taylor is not accused of wrongdoing and was in Rockhampton when the hearing took place.

The hearing forms part of Operation Rosny, which is examining alleged breaches of the NSW Electoral Funding Act involving people associated with the NSW Liberal party. The Reformers, a sub-faction of the party’s right, sought to recruit conservative members and take control of branches.

A March 2021 group message attributed to Dallas McInerney said he planned to seek $10,000 from Taylor. Former NSW Liberal parliamentary staffer Dylan Whitelaw was shown a message in which he allegedly wrote that McInerney had received a commitment from Taylor for a $15,000 payment and a $3,000 monthly donation. Whitelaw said he did not recall sending the message or Taylor making a contribution.

A Taylor spokesperson said the leader was not a party to matters before the commission and had not been approached. The statement said donations and fundraising activities were declared in accordance with the rules and were matters for the party. Taylor does not appear as a donor on the NSW disclosure register for 2020-21, 2021-22 or 2022-23.

The inquiry is also examining alleged donations involving fugitive developer Jean Nassif, former hotelier Michael O’Hara and Catholic Schools NSW. It heard evidence that Catholic Schools NSW employees, including Whitelaw, performed Reformers work. McInerney has stood aside as chief executive and is expected to give evidence later in the inquiry.