Angus Taylor named as potential donor to NSW Liberal ‘Reformers’ being investigated by Icac

Angus Taylor allegedly donated to a conservative Liberal group mow being investigated by the NSW anti-corruption watchdog. He is not accused of wrongdoing. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP View image in fullscreen Angus Taylor allegedly donated to a conservative Liberal group mow being investigated by the NSW anti-corruption watchdog. He is not accused of wrongdoing. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP Angus Taylor named as potential donor to NSW Liberal ‘Reformers’ being investigated by Icac Federal opposition leader, who is not accused of wrongdoing, says he won’t provide ‘running commentary on matters before commission’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The federal opposition leader has been named as a potential donor to a conservative Liberal group now being investigated by the New South Wales corruption watchdog. Angus Taylor himself is not accused of wrongdoing. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) on Tuesday held its second day of Operation Rosny hearings into allegations of corruption against people associated with the NSW Liberal party. In her opening statement on Monday, counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC said evidence would show how a group of young Liberal power brokers known as the “Reformers” allegedly “solicited or accepted” donations, including from prohibited donors, in amounts which were undeclared or exceeded caps, to recruit or renew members to the party. Former NSW Liberal parliamentary staffer and associate of the Reformers, Dylan Whitelaw, who is not named in Icac’s allegations, gave evidence in Sydney on Tuesday. Secret tape recordings and ‘sham’ payments: the Liberals’ internal ideological war laid bare Read more During the hearing, Whitelaw was shown a screenshot of a message from the Catholic Schools NSW chief executive, Dallas McInerney. The screenshot was sent by Robert Assaf, a member of the Reformers, to a group chat that included Whitelaw in March 2021. “I have breakfast club with ministers this Thursday morning, who can I get an update from? Re SCD [state council delegate] progress in the last six to 12 months. I want to shake down Angus for 10k,” the message, read aloud at the inquiry, allegedly said. Asked if “Angus” referred to Angus Taylor, Whitelaw said: “I would assume it’s Angus Taylor”. Whitelaw said that “SCD progress” referred to a Reformers plan to have as many conservative members elected to the NSW Liberals state council as possible. Whitelaw was shown another message, from days later, in which he allegedly wrote: “Dallas has told me he got the commitment from Angus, the 15k injection plus a 3k monthly donation!” He said he did not recall sending the messages, nor did he recall Taylor making a financial contribution to the Reformers. “Potentially, Dallas had told me something that was incorrect. I’d be very surprised if Mr Taylor made any financial contribution,” Whitelaw said. Counsel assisting Juliet Curtin aske