ICAC sees texts hinting Angus Taylor may have funded hard-right Reformers faction

The New South Wales corruption watchdog displayed text messages indicating that federal opposition leader Angus Taylor may have either contributed funds to the hard-right Reformers faction or declined to do so, according to counsel Juliet Curtin. Reformers co-founder Christian Ellis sent a September 2021 message noting the group had “zero dollars at the moment,” prompting Jean-Claude Perrottet to ask why, to which Ellis replied referencing Michael O’Hara’s dislike of a vaccination campaign and Taylor’s animus toward Rob.

Perrottet acknowledged the implication that Taylor had paid the group. The inquiry also heard that lobbying firm Beckington issued fake invoices for consulting work, channeling prohibited donations from O’Hara and possibly from the late Teena McQueen, who was said to have funded bar tabs and venue use. Additional testimony covered monthly $5,000 payments to Perrottet from Beckington and his employment history with Liberal upper-house member Damien Tudehope. The commission is now set to hear further witnesses, including Jeremy Greenwood, as it investigates alleged illegal donations linked to property developer Jean Nassif and the schools governing body through JPG Advisory.