‘Rob has the bucks cash’: NSW Liberals used Reformers funds to pay for ‘personal expenditure’, Icac hears

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ICAC Inquiry Reveals Reformers Used Party Funds for Personal Bucks Night

First Witness from Conservative Faction Testifies

The Independent Commission Against Corruption received testimony on Friday from Robert Assaf, marking the initial appearance of a representative from the conservative right-wing Liberal faction known as the Reformers. According to the hearing, this group of influential young conservative figures faces accusations regarding the collection of improper donations. One member revealed that portions of these funds were utilized for personal celebrations, including a bucks night event.

The ongoing investigation centers on claims that the Reformers engaged in branch stacking—a practice involving the solicitation or acceptance of unlawful contributions to either attract new members or maintain existing ones within the party structure. Members of this faction advocated for more traditional conservative positions on issues including euthanasia, abortion rights, and same-sex marriage legislation.

Financial Arrangements and Tax Strategy

Peggy Dwyer SC, serving as counsel assisting the commission, questioned Assaf regarding a significant financial decision. The group had transferred payments from prohibited donor Michael O’Hara from their official account to Beckington, a lobbying entity established and managed by Christian Ellis, a Reformers member. O’Hara had previously acknowledged a fabricated arrangement wherein he compensated Beckington for what was described as strategic wealth management advice. He contested whether these payments constituted political donations or went directly to the NSW Liberal Party.

“That’s an explanation that you thought of overnight. Is that right?”

When Dwyer pressed him on this point, Assaf maintained that routing money through Beckington rather than the Reformers’ own account provided maximum tax advantages. He further acknowledged that while he understood the illegality of minimizing tax obligations through fabricated invoices, he was not fully aware of this at the time the arrangement was made. When asked whether he considered the practice dishonest, Assaf characterized it as “tricky” rather than outright deceitful.

The Bucks Night Revelation

Assaf conceded that he had temporarily diverted Reformers account funds to cover expenses for a bucks night celebration. This admission came in response to a WhatsApp message from August 2020, sent by Jean-Claude Perrottet—who is the sibling of former New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet. The message simply stated: “Rob has the bucks cash coming back.”

“I think you recall I referred to us being immature and young, using the account as an advance on our personal expenditure.”

Assaf elaborated that the group had secured a venue for either his own or Christian Ellis’s bucks night, requiring an initial payment. He suggested the event may have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, leaving the funds pending reimbursement. Additionally, Assaf revealed that he had generated fake invoices addressed to Beckington under his wife Carmel Assaf’s name. However, he disputed the notion that these were intended to repay him for work performed on behalf of the Reformers. Instead, he claimed they were created to secure a ten percent fee that had been promised to him for bringing new clients to Ellis.

Catholic Schools Connection and Factional Work

The commission learned that Assaf held a communications position at Catholic Schools NSW during 2019. This organization oversees approximately six hundred schools throughout the state. He worked alongside Dylan Whitelaw, who serves as an associate within the Reformers and testified earlier in the proceedings. Dallas McInerney, the chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW, is alleged to have organized and authorized payments to the faction through Beckington to support their branch stacking initiatives. Whitelaw eventually took employment at Beckington as well.

Assaf challenged Whitelaw’s previous assertion that he dedicated sixty percent of his working hours at Catholic Schools NSW to factional activities. According to Assaf, the actual figure was closer to ten to twenty percent. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that he would occasionally call in sick specifically to attend to Reformers business. Under Dwyer’s examination, Assaf confirmed his awareness that payments flowing to Beckington were ultimately financing Whitelaw’s work for the faction.

Relationships and Political Connections

The hearing also explored the evolving dynamics between key figures. Assaf testified that his friendship with Ellis deteriorated over time. When McInerney reportedly sought to terminate the relationship with Beckington in 2021, Assaf offered counsel on several occasions. He recalled telling McInerney something along the lines of: “Christian’s a liar. He’s greedy. I don’t trust him, and I’m not sure he’s doing much for you at the moment.”

Finally, the inquiry revisited whether federal opposition leader Angus Taylor possessed knowledge of and endorsed the Reformers’ activities. Assaf remembered forwarding a screenshot of a message from McInerney indicating an intention to “shake down Angus for 10K.” He also recalled reading a communication from Whitelaw claiming McInerney had obtained “the commitment from Angus, the 15k injection plus a 3k monthly donation,” though Assaf denied that any such donation actually materialized.

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