Catholic Schools NSW CEO keen to ‘exonerate’ himself in Liberal Party ICAC probe, hearing told
A key figure in an explosive inquiry into allegations of branch stacking and electoral fraud says he wants to exonerate himself.
The long-time chief executive of NSW’s peak body for Catholic schools is keen to exonerate himself at an explosive anti-corruption inquiry that has ensnared the highest echelons of the state Liberal Party, a hearing has been told.
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption is holding public hearings into allegations a group within the NSW Liberal Party – known as the Reformers – accepted prohibited donations, including from fugitive property developer Jean Nassif and Catholic Schools NSW through chief executive Dallas McInerney “in amounts that were not declared and exceeded applicable donation caps”.
Taking the stand on Thursday, Mr McInerney told the inquiry he was eager to clear his name.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I take it that you’re acutely aware that those allegations involve Catholic Schools NSW, the organisation of which you have been the CEO over some nearly nine years,” counsel assisting Julie Curtin said.
“Yes,” Mr McInerney replied.
“And, it follows that you must be keen to exonerate yourself, insofar as the allegations may suggest that you were involved in any wrongdoing,” Ms Curtin continued.
“Yes.”
Ms Curtin: “And, you’ve got nothing to hide?
“No.”
Mr McInerney stepped down as Catholic Schools chief executive after being named in the probe.
He left the NSW Liberal Party earlier this year.
The inquiry was told Mr McInerney had at one point considered a run at the Senate.
It was told Reformer Jeremy Greenwood, who gave evidence earlier in the week, had been asked by Mr McInerney to be on his Senate preselection committee in a bid to pursue a political career.
Mr McInerney told the inquiry he did not remember the exchange.
Asked if he had political aspirations, Mr McInerney said it had been “off and on over several years”.
“They fade, they recede … opportunities arise, you consider it,” he said.
In a message to Mr Greenwood after the death of former senator Jim Molan, Mr McInerney said: “I know I’ve been f**ked, I could have won preselection.”
He claimed in the message several people had been “doing anything but Dallas campaign for months”.
“Yeah, its f**ked, its f**ked, its f**ked,” Mr McInerney.
Mr McInerney admitted he was communicating his “disappointment” to Mr Greenwood.
Earlier, Mr McInerney told the inquiry he knew former premier Dominic Perrottet – who is not named in the probe and not accused of any wrongdoing – and brother Jean-Claude Perrottet, a member of the Reformers, through the NSW Liberal Party.
He also came to know federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, former prime minister Tony Abbott, and Nationals leader Matt Canavan, the hearing was told.
Reformers probed
The Reformers were seeking to bolster the number of Christian and conservative members of the NSW Liberal Party through branch stacking, the inquiry was told.
A manifesto for the group stated that if they were able to recruit 5000 additional members, they could wrestle control of the party.
The allegations stem from an explosive parliamentary speech by NSW Liberal MP Ray Williams in 2022 in which he alleged branch stacking in the Hills Shire Council linked to Mr Nassif. The matter was the subject of a parliamentary probe many of the Reformers avoided attending.
The inquiry has previously heard evidence from former Catholic Schools NSW staffer Dylan Whitelaw, who is not named in the probe.
Mr Whitelaw alleged much of his work at Catholic Schools NSW was instead for the Reformers, as was that of Reformer Christian Ellis, a co-founder of lobbyist firm Beckington Pty Ltd.
Mr Whitelaw, and other Reformers who have given evidence, worked with Beckington.
The inquiry was previously told the lobbying firm provided fake invoices to long-time hotelier Michael O’Hara, a prohibited donor under electoral laws.
Mr O’Hara told the inquiry he was not aware of any potential electoral breaches.
Robert Assaf, who worked for Beckington and Catholic Schools NSW, is also named in the probe and gave evidence to the inquiry last week.
ICAC does not place charges and instead refers its finding to police.
None of the people named are accused of any wrongdoing, only that they are named in the probe.
Originally published as Catholic Schools NSW CEO keen to ‘exonerate’ himself in Liberal Party ICAC probe, hearing told
