The cutthroat world of New South Wales Liberal party factionalism has been laid bare in explosive testimony before the state’s corruption watchdog, with a young conservative powerbroker likening internal machinations to medieval warfare and conceding his group believed fund-raising laws “didn’t apply to us”.
Robert Assaf, a co-founder of the influential Reformers faction, fronted the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Thursday, becoming the first member of the group to give evidence in an inquiry that has raised serious questions about the Liberal Party's fund-raising practices and adherence to electoral laws.
His candid admissions painted a picture of a group driven by a fervent desire to shape the party’s direction, seemingly unburdened by legal constraints when it came to securing political donations. The Guardian Australia reported Assaf’s striking comparisons, which offer a rare glimpse into the often-opaque world of party power broking.
A Culture of 'Warring Kingdoms'
Under examination, Mr Assaf described the internal workings of the NSW Liberal Party as a landscape of “warring kingdoms”, where factions battled fiercely for control and influence. This vivid analogy underscores the intense, often brutal, nature of factional politics that has long been a hallmark of the Liberal Party in NSW.
The Reformers, a right-wing grouping, emerged as a force aiming to shift the party's ideological compass, particularly in the lead-up to the 2019 federal election. Their alleged activities, now under ICAC scrutiny, include soliciting and accepting prohibited donations, potentially in breach of state electoral funding legislation designed to ensure transparency and prevent undue influence.
Mr Assaf's testimony suggested a casual disregard for these regulations, stating that the group “didn’t think the law applied to us” when it came to financial contributions. This extraordinary admission has sent shockwaves through political circles, prompting concerns about the integrity of political donations and the culture within parts of the Liberal Party.
Taylor's Tenuous Link to Reformers
During his appearance, Mr Assaf also shed light on the involvement – or lack thereof – of prominent federal Liberal figures, including Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor. While acknowledging Mr Taylor “definitely wasn’t opposed” to the Reformers’ agenda, Assaf reportedly downplayed his direct involvement in the group's day-to-day operations.
“Angus Taylor wasn’t that involved,” Mr Assaf told the commission, as reported by The Guardian Australia. This statement could be crucial as ICAC investigates the extent to which senior party figures were aware of, or implicitly endorsed, the Reformers' contentious fund-raising methods. The inquiry seeks to determine if prohibited donations, potentially from property developers or other restricted sources, found their way into party coffers via the Reformers.
ICAC's Broad Reach
ICAC’s investigation into the Reformers is part of a broader probe into alleged corrupt conduct concerning political donations made to the NSW Liberal Party. The commission’s hearings have already exposed a complex web of financial transactions and alleged attempts to circumvent electoral funding laws, particularly those designed to ban donations from property developers and tobacco industry representatives.
The revelations from Mr Assaf's testimony provide a compelling insight into the mindset of some factional players, highlighting a perceived sense of impunity and an aggressive pursuit of political power. As the inquiry continues, the public will be watching closely to see how far up the Liberal Party hierarchy these alleged breaches of electoral law extend, and what repercussions they will have for the individuals and the party involved.
