Overview
- The public hearings began on Monday with Counsel Assisting Peggy Dwyer laying out evidence and hotelier Michael O’Hara called as the first witness to give sworn testimony.
- O’Hara told the commission he made about $165,000 in payments to the right‑wing faction known as the Reformers, including $40,000 into a Reformers bank account and $125,000 disguised as consultancy fees through Paslibdan Pty Ltd.
- Counsel Assisting played phone intercepts that allegedly show fugitive developer Jean Nassif in contact with Jean‑Claude and Charles Perrottet as part of attempts to influence government decisions; Nassif is believed to be in Lebanon and is the subject of an arrest warrant while dozens of Toplace companies are in administration.
- ICAC has named multiple people of interest, including the Perrottet brothers and Catholic Schools NSW CEO Dallas McInerney, and documents obtained by media show a 2021 state executive vote to install Hills Shire council candidates that five current Liberal MPs supported.
- The inquiry will test whether donations concealed through third parties, sham invoices or proxies breached NSW electoral law, and it could widen reputational and legal fallout for party figures, prompt further stand‑downs and extend beyond the planned eight weeks.