Catholic Schools NSW CEO says device reset was bank-security response, not evidence tampering
Catholic Schools NSW chief Dallas McInerney told an ICAC hearing he wiped his phone and iPad after a bank warned of a breach, denying any attempt to destroy evidence in a Liberal faction donation probe.
During a session of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, Catholic Schools NSW chief executive Dallas McInerney asserted that his decision to factory-reset a work phone and iPad was prompted by a bank alert about a compromised account, not an effort to hide evidence. He had already handed over messages with reformer Jean-Claude Perrottet and was later asked about other reformer communications, which he said were erased after the alert.
Counsel Dr Peggy Dwyer SC characterized the reset as a “transparent attempt” to destroy critical material, but McInerney countered that the inquiry had been ongoing for several weeks, giving him no opportunity for misconduct. The hearing also revealed McInerney’s role in facilitating a 2020 meeting between Liberal MP Angus Taylor and reformer Christian Ellis, after Ellis repeatedly “pestered” Taylor for a slot. Further testimony linked Catholic Schools NSW’s payments of $265,900 to lobbying firms Beckington and JPG Advisory, which were involved in fundraising for the Hume Foundation that supported Taylor’s federal seat.
McInerney maintained that the consulting services provided were legitimate and not chiefly partisan lobbying. The investigation continues, with Taylor yet to comment.
Why it matters
The case highlights potential misuse of charitable organization funds for partisan lobbying and raises questions about evidence handling in a major corruption probe.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTBoth camps report that the CEO wiped his devices after a bank alert, but left-leaning coverage emphasizes criticism that the reset was a “transparent attempt” to destroy evidence, while centrist coverage stresses his admission and the potential obstruction of a corruption inquiry.
LEFT
Frames the device reset as a suspicious move that may have been intended to destroy critical evidence, highlighting counsel’s criticism.
CENTER
Frames the wipe as a concerning admission within a corruption probe, underscoring the risk that important messages were erased.
The left emphasises
- factory-reset was prompted by a bank alert about a compromised account
- counsel called the reset a “transparent attempt” to destroy critical material
- McInerney argued the inquiry had been ongoing, giving him no chance for misconduct
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