The New South Wales Independent Commission against Corruption (Icac) has commenced hearings into alleged corrupt conduct in the Hills shire, Sydney's north-west, stemming from factional warfare within the Liberal party. The inquiry, announced two weeks ago, examines events in 2022 involving political operatives and developer Jean Nassif, now a fugitive in Lebanon.
Allegations of illegal donations and branch stacking
Icac will allege that a group known as the Reformers—young, well-connected Christian men—installed their own slate of councillors on Hills shire council during the 2022 local government elections with the help of illegal donations. The group is also accused of playing a role in ending the career of sitting state minister David Elliott and attempting to interfere with the duties of building commissioner David Chandler.
Former deputy mayor Alan Haselden recalled being shown plans for "colossal structures" at Castle Hill by Nassif in 2018 or 2019, describing himself as "stunned." These developments are central to the probe.
Second case: John Sidoti charged
Separately, former Liberal minister John Sidoti was charged with misconduct in public office this week, following Icac findings in 2022 that he engaged in serious corrupt conduct by lobbying councillors to relax planning controls for his family's properties. Sidoti has vowed to fight the charge.
Both cases raise questions about how councillors are vulnerable to pressure from powerful party figures, and the internal governance of the Liberal party.
Factional wars and the Reformers
The Hills shire has been riven by factional fighting between the right and centre-right factions. The right draws support from conservative Catholic communities, including figures like former premier Dominic Perrottet and his brothers Jean-Claude and Charlie, whose activities are under investigation. The centre-right aligns with evangelical Christians, including federal MP Alex Hawke and former minister David Elliott.
One centre-right figure told the Guardian that branch-stacking allegations emerged around 2018, with entire families of developers joining local branches. "Whole families – eight or 10 members," he claimed.
Developer donations and building commissioner interference
Donations from property developers are banned in NSW after previous scandals. Icac is investigating whether the Reformers solicited or accepted donations from Nassif, and whether there was a quid pro quo. The inquiry also examines alleged attempts to remove building commissioner David Chandler, who faced false bribery accusations from Toplace executives after ordering a ban on selling apartments in Nassif's Skyview project.
Chandler told a parliamentary inquiry that Toplace executives claimed he requested a $5m bribe, but proof was never provided.
Broader implications
Geoffrey Watson, a director of the Centre for Public Integrity, says there will always be "one-off bad guys" but stresses the need for harsh penalties for illegal donations. The Hills inquiry may reveal whether senior Liberal figures turned a blind eye to branch stacking and illicit funding, with consequences for the party's credibility.
"The consequences of looking the other way, if that's what happened, will be felt by the Liberal party for years," the article notes.
