Operation Rosny ICAC investigation LIVE updates: Former Liberal Party staffer Dylan Whitelaw continues evidence after bombshell claim over Opposition Leader’s donation to NSW Reformers

Today we’ll continue hearing evidence from one-time Liberal staffer and Catholic Schools NSW employee Dylan Whitelaw.

The 25-year-old now State Emergency Services assistant commander was a key member of the Reformers, the group of religious conservative Liberal operatives at the core of this inquiry.

The commission heard Whitelaw often spent time during his day working on activities to benefit the Reformers goal of stacking Liberal branches with conservatives, on the “Catholic Schools’ dime”.

Barely out of high school Whitelaw was hand-picked for a job by former CEO Dallas McInerney, the commission heard yesterday, who Whitelaw said encouraged him to complete Liberal Party activities while at work.

He was also a staffer for Liberal MP Anthony Roberts, and for a time worked at Beckington Group – the company set up by fellow Reformer Christian Ellis along with Jeremy Greenwood. The ICAC is investigating if invoices paid to Beckington Group by Catholic Schools NSW were actually political donations to further the goal of stacking branches with conservatives.

Sydney Morning Herald subscribers have access to the most comprehensive and expert coverage of Operation Rosny in Sydney.

We have been following these events from the very start and each day bring you a mixture of news, analysis and colour of the revelations as they unfold.

To catch up on yesterday’s news, from senior writer Alexandra Smith and state political correspondent Jessica McSweeney click here: Angus Taylor embroiled in donation claims as ICAC airs secret messages.

For an entertaining insight into what it’s like to sit in the witness box, read chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont’s piece here: Memory failure, shakedowns and the ICAC trap: Liberal staffer’s long day in the box.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of day three of the public Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry codenamed Operation Rosny. The inquiry is examining a broad range of allegations including branch-stacking, possible illegal donations and other behaviour involving Liberal figures, property developer Jean Nassif, Catholic Schools NSW and Sydney councils.

We are expecting to hear more from former Liberal Party operator Dylan Whitelaw, a former member of “The Reformers” faction who gave evidence yesterday.

Here’s a recap of what we heard on Tuesday:

• Text messages from a Reformers group chat showed then-Catholic Schools NSW chief executive Dallas McInerney wanted to “shake down” Angus Taylor for $10,000 in donations.

• A text message shown at the inquiry showed Dylan Whitelaw telling the group chat that McInerney had received a commitment “from Angus” for a “15k injection, plus a 3k monthly donation”.

• A spokesperson for Taylor did not deny the donations were made, but said “donations and fundraising activities are declared in accordance with the rules and are a matter for the party”.
• Whitelaw told the commission he and employee Robert Assad did Liberal party factional work during their working hours at Catholic Schools NSW. It was a “running joke” between himself and Assaf, Whitelaw said.
• Michael O’Hara, who the commission has heard provided financial support to the Reformers, withdrew his support after feeling then-premier Dominic Perrottet and prime minister Scott Morrison had gone too “woke”.
• O’Hara said he now feels his support of the Reformers was a “mistake”, and he was “disgusted” after hearing allegations outlined in Monday’s hearing.

Stay with us for our live coverage, and you can watch the proceedings live-streamed here.