Overview
- Catholic Schools NSW terminated chief executive Dallas McInerney after Friday's ICAC evidence showed he performed factory resets on his work iPhone and iPad while sworn.
- ICAC is investigating claims that up to $265,000 in CSNSW funds were diverted through sham invoices to two companies, Beckington and JPG Advisory, and ultimately benefited the NSW Reformers faction.
- Counsel assisting the commission said there is no suggestion the CSNSW board authorised the conduct, but the board said it had lost confidence in McInerney and named an interim CEO while proposing an external review.
- McInerney has denied knowledge of any scheme and said he wants to cooperate with the inquiry, yet he admitted wiping devices and returning them to CSNSW, an action the commission characterised as an attempt to destroy evidence.
- The case raises governance and legal risks for the peak body that represents about 594 schools and 274,000 students and could have political consequences if ICAC finds the payments breached NSW donation laws.