Mike Gallacher was aware of illegal Newcastle campaign funding, Icac told
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Version 0 of 1. Former New South Wales police minister Mike Gallacher was aware of illegal campaign funding arrangements for the seat of Newcastle and even suggested some of them, a corruption inquiry has heard. In his opening address at the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Wednesday, counsel assisting the inquiry Geoffrey Watson SC said Gallacher was aware of illegal funding arrangements between the Liberal party and developers. “There is evidence Gallacher suggested some of them,” he said. “There is other evidence that Chris Hartcher MP was also aware and that he participated in aspects of it.” The inquiry heard Hugh Thomson, a former campaign staffer to Liberal NSW MP Tim Owen, was at the centre of the illegal activity involving banned donations from developers. These included local radio presenter Luke Grant being paid $20,000 to work on Owen’s campaign, half of which was to be paid for by Hunter region developer Hilton Grugeon and half by local mayor Jeff McCloy. “To disguise their involvement, more sham invoices were created,” Watson said. But when developer Buildev was slow to pay, it fell to Owen to put pressure on the developer to pay up. Property developers have been banned from making political donations in NSW since 2009. The inquiry has heard Buildev funded two campaigns to unseat former Labor MP for Newcastle Jodi McKay. Watson said the Labor party was also involved in the form of former ministers Joe Tripodi and Eric Roozendaal, who took steps to help Buildev in its campaign against McKay. “The evidence gathered so far suggests their conduct was quite out of step with their parliamentary or ministerial responsibilities, and that each, quite improperly, took steps to benefit Buildev,” Watson said. The inquiry was also shown emails between Buildev employees David Sharpe and Darren Williams shortly after one campaign against McKay began. “Good start Willie kick the shit out of her,” the email from Sharpe said. The hearings continue. |