ICAC inquiry into Liberal Party faction Reformers and alleged illegal donations
Consensus Summary
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating allegations involving the Liberal Party faction Reformers, focusing on prohibited donations and potential misconduct. Lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood, 37, testified on Monday that he discouraged Reformers members from continuing due to the group becoming toxic, though he admitted his political views aligned with theirs. Both sources confirm Greenwood worked with Nationals senator Matt Canavan in 2018 and visited Christian Ellis, a Reformers co-founder, in the UK in June. Greenwood downplayed his involvement, saying he assisted only one event in 2019 under pressure, but ICAC has questioned his role, including his ties to companies like Beckington, which allegedly concealed political donations. The inquiry also involves allegations that Greenwood and others avoided a parliamentary inquiry in 2023, with Catholic Schools NSW CEO Dallas McInerney expected to testify on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Jeremy Greenwood testified before ICAC on Monday
- Greenwood said he privately told Reformers members 'not to keep going' because the group became 'toxic'
- Greenwood worked with Nationals senator Matt Canavan in 2018
- Christian Ellis, a Reformers co-founder, now lives in the UK
- Greenwood visited Ellis in the UK in June
- ICAC is investigating allegations of prohibited donations channeled through third parties to support the Reformers
- Greenwood downplayed his involvement with the Reformers, saying he was 'all about the Nationals' in 2018
- Greenwood attended a Reformers event in 2018 in a professional capacity
- Greenwood said he 'assisted on one event under heavy pressure' in 2019
- Greenwood is 37 years old
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Greenwood said he counted 30 times witnesses claimed he was not a member of the Reformers during testimony
- Greenwood said he supported Reformers' issues but denied being a member, saying 'how many people have to say I'm not a member of the Reformers?'
- ICAC previously heard money from Jean Nassif's company, Toplace, was allegedly channeled through companies linked to Greenwood before being distributed to Reformers members
- Greenwood's former company, Beckington, is alleged to have concealed political donations as payments for lobbying and government relations work
- Greenwood said he was not sure if Christian Ellis plans to return to Australia
- Counsel Assisting Peggy Dwyer SC argued Greenwood was supporting the Reformers' activities in 2019
- Greenwood said he had 'yet to see another shred of evidence' that he was involved with the Reformers for its entire history
- Greenwood described meeting Ellis when both were staffers in the office of Nationals senator Matt Canavan in 2018
- Greenwood said he was not sure if he attended an event where former broadcaster Alan Jones spoke, saying 'If Alan was going and speaking, I would have wanted to go, but it would have depended on my availability'
- Greenwood said his lobbying firm JGP Advisory lost clients after the announcement of ICAC’s inquiry
- Greenwood was a groomsman at Christian Ellis’s wedding
- The commission heard allegations that Greenwood, Ellis, Charles Perrottet, and Jean-Claude Perrottet avoided summons to appear at a parliamentary inquiry in 2023
- Catholic Schools NSW CEO Dallas McInerney is expected to appear on Wednesday and Thursday this week
- Greenwood said he had not spent 'not a lot of time' with former premier Dominic Perrottet
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states Greenwood 'fronted ICAC for the first time on Monday,' while Guardian says he 'gave evidence on Monday' without specifying if it was his first appearance
- ABC says Greenwood 'disagreed with suggestions he wanted the group to continue to advocate for matters he personally supported,' while Guardian does not mention this specific disagreement
- ABC says Greenwood 'told the commission he was working with Nationals senator Matt Canavan in 2018,' while Guardian says he 'described meeting Ellis when both were staffers in the office of Nationals senator Matt Canavan in 2018,' implying a broader context
- ABC says Greenwood 'said he was interested in the group's conservative social policies and would have attended some events,' while Guardian says he was 'not sure if he had attended' the Alan Jones event
- ABC says Greenwood 'said he considered himself all about the Nationals at the time,' while Guardian says he 'downplayed his involvement' without explicitly stating his focus on the Nationals
Source Articles
ICAC questions lobbyist's role with 'toxic' Reformers
Lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood said a right-wing Liberal Party factional group at the centre of a corruption watchdog inquiry became so "toxic" he encouraged his friends to leave it.
Lobbyist tells Icac there’s not a ‘shred of evidence’ he was involved with conservative Liberal group
Jeremy Greenwood tells inquiry he instructed the factional group ‘not to keep going’ because ‘it became so toxic’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A Liberal figure under investigation for allegedly accepting illegal donations has told the corruption watchdog that it does not have a “shred of evidence” that he was part of a conservative factional group , saying he told members “not to keep going” after it became “t