NSW Liberals' Reformers Used Donations for Bucks Night, Icac 2026

The NSW Liberals' Reformers faction allegedly used illegal donations to fund a bucks night, as revealed in the Icac hearing. This corruption inquiry exposes how young conservative power brokers misused political funds for personal expenditure, raising serious questions about accountability in Australian politics.

Icac Hearing Reveals Bucks Night Payments

Robert Assaf, a key member of the Reformers, admitted to temporarily using funds from the group's account to pay for a bucks night. The inquiry heard that the group, which sought conservative policies on same-sex marriage, abortion, and euthanasia, engaged in branch stacking to recruit party members.

The counsel assisting, Peggy Dwyer SC, questioned Assaf about the decision to route payments from prohibited donor Michael O'Hara through Beckington, a lobbying firm. Assaf claimed the arrangement was for tax benefits, but Dwyer challenged this explanation as an afterthought.

Illegal Donations and Fake Invoices

O'Hara earlier admitted to a fake arrangement where he paid Beckington for 'strategic wealth strategy investment advice.' The inquiry is investigating whether these payments constituted illegal political donations to the NSW Liberals.

Assaf acknowledged that creating fake invoices to minimise tax was illegal, but he claimed he didn't know at the time. When asked if the arrangement was dishonest, he replied, 'I would have thought it was tricky.'

Branch Stacking and Political Influence

The Reformers group aimed to increase their influence within the NSW Liberal Party by stacking branches with new members. This practice is illegal under electoral laws, as it can skew preselection outcomes and undermine democratic processes.

A WhatsApp message from Jean-Claude Perrottet, brother of former premier Dominic Perrottet, read: 'Rob has the bucks cash coming back.' This suggests a coordinated effort to manage the misused funds.

Key Findings from the Icac Testimony

• Personal expenditure: Funds from the Reformers account were used for a bucks night, violating political donation rules.
• Fake invoicing: Payments were funnelled through Beckington to create tax benefits, which Assaf admitted was 'tricky' and potentially dishonest.
• Branch stacking: The group recruited members to push conservative policies, a practice under investigation.
• Prohibited donor: Michael O'Hara, a banned donor, was involved in the payment scheme.

Comparison of Political Donation Rules

Implications for NSW Politics

The Icac hearing highlights the need for stricter enforcement of political donation laws. If the Reformers are found guilty, it could lead to significant penalties and a loss of public trust in the NSW Liberal Party.

This case also underscores the importance of transparency in political funding. Voters deserve to know that their representatives are not using donations for personal gain.

FAQ

The Icac inquiry continues, with more witnesses expected to testify. The outcome could reshape the NSW Liberal Party's internal dynamics and lead to reforms in political donation laws.