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September 26, 2013
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Issue 30
Spence and Webber’s offices raided as part of ICAC inquiry he Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has raided the offices of Liberal MPs Mr Chris Spence and Mr Darren Webber over an alleged fundraising scandal.
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Mr Spence, who is the state member for The Entrance, and Mr Webber, the state member for Wyong, had their offices searched on Friday, September 20, with investigators seizing computers and documents. Ms Karen McNamara, who is expected to be declared federal member for Dobell in the coming days, has also been dragged into the controversy due to her role as Mr Webber’s campaign manager in the 2011 state election. The Age has reported that Ms McNamara significantly overstated the amount of funds she had raised for Mr Webber’s campaign. It was revealed that Ms McNamara, during her
pre-selection interview for Dobell, said she had raised up to $100,000 in her role as campaign manager. However, a member for the NSW Liberal state executive Ms Hollie Hughes has said she was advised party records indicated official receipts totalled as little as $50,000. The Sydney Morning Herald has also reported that the ICAC raids are believed to be linked to allegations that two staff members for NSW Energy Minister Mr Chris Hartcher funnelled political donations through a front company prior to the 2011 state election. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a $5,000 donation was
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Member for Wyong Mr Darren Webber
made by a Wyong building company, LA Commercial, owned by a Mr Lusted, to the benefit of the Liberal Party’s Central Coast candidates shortly before the March 2011 election. The donation is believed to have been made through Eightbyfive, which is the trading name for a trust fund connected to Mr Tim Koelma, a senior policy adviser to Mr Hartcher. Mr Koelma has since resigned from his position and Mr Lusted unsuccessfully contested Liberal pre-selection for the federal seat of Dobell. It has been reported that Mr Lusted has said that at the time, he believed he was entitled to make the donation as he was not a property developer for the
purposes of the Election Funding Act. Property developers have been banned from making political donations in NSW since 2009. Neither Mr Webber nor Mr Spence were able to respond to enquiries from the Wyong Regional Chronicle for legal reasons. ICAC also could not comment on its operational matters. However, Ms McNamara has issued a statement and has denied the allegations against her. “The allegation made in today’s news story is a baseless lie,” Ms McNamara said of the media report. “A donation was made to attend a fundraising dinner and was properly receipted and declared. “As I have said
Ms Karen McNamara, who is likely to become the Federal Member for Dobell
before, to the best of my knowledge, I have always complied with my obligations in that role. Ms McNamara also said that if it was deemed she could assist in any way with current inquiries involving other persons named in recent news stories, she would be more than happy to assist. NSW premier Mr Barry O’Farrell has said he had not been contacted by the ICAC about the raids on Mr Spence and Mr Webber’s offices. “I don’t believe the ICAC has ever made it a practice to advise premiers of visits by its staff in investigations,” Mr O’Farrell said. “I have never been contracted by the ICAC about such activity. “As I previously said, the Liberal Party referred matters concerning
donations to the Electoral Funding Authority in May 2012. “It has been previously reported the ICAC is investigating that issue. “But I have not been advised of any such investigation, nor would I expect to be. “It is an offence for someone to confirm formal contact with them by the ICAC. “As I said in Parliament again this week, I am a strong supporter of the ICAC. “It has and continues to do a great job for the people of NSW.” Media release, 23 Sep 2013 Olivia Suzanski, Office of Barry O’Farrell Media statement, 25 Sep 2013 Alicia McCumstie, Office of Karen McNamara Website, 23 Aug 2013 The Age Website, 21 Sep 2013, Sydney Morning Herald
Member for The Entrance Mr Chris Spence
the Wyong Shire