Among a steady stream of legal identities filing into the ICAC’s inquiry into allegations of corrupt political donations was high-profile solicitor Bryan Wrench, who was part of lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood’s team when he wasn’t across town defending Alan Jones.
asserted
he → file → Jones
Ex-premier Gladys Berejiklian’s barrister partner Arthur Moses appeared for The Hills Shire Council, while Colonel Bruce Levet represented his ex-army colleague and former Liberal police minister David Elliott.
asserted
Levet → appear → colleague
This kind of representation doesn’t come cheap and one might feel sympathy for some – though perhaps not all – of those witnesses now opening their legal bills.
uncertain
one → come → bills
However, it turns out not everyone will have to foot their own costs.
asserted
everyone → turn → costs
Under government rules, ministers and public officials can apply for ex-gratia assistance when they’re required to front up to the ICAC.
asserted
they → apply → ICAC
A freedom of information request by CBD reveals five applications for legal assistance relating to Operation Rosny were approved by NSW’s Department of Communities and Justice.
asserted
applications → reveal → Communities
Former NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, who faced the wrath of disgraced Toplace developer Jean Nassif, confirmed he was a successful applicant.
asserted
he → face → Nassif
“I got some assistance and, frankly, I believe I was entitled to it, as I was just doing my job,” he said.
asserted
he → get → job
Chandler is not accused of any wrongdoing.
asserted
Chandler → accuse → wrongdoing
Ex-Liberal finance minister Damien Tudehope, who admitted to leaking a confidential parliamentary inquiry report into links between Liberal Party figures and Nassif, said he applied for assistance but got no reply.
asserted
he → admit → reply
“I did anticipate a response,” he said, unimpressed.
asserted
he → anticipate → response
Tudehope quit the frontbench after he was called to appear to avoid “unnecessary distraction” for his party.
asserted
he → quit → party
Elliott, who was also not accused of wrongdoing in the inquiry, refused to say whether he received assistance because he believed administrative matters at ICAC were confidential.
asserted
matters → accuse → ICAC
Ex-fair trading minister Eleni Petinos, who would also be eligible, did not respond by deadline.
asserted
who → respond → deadline
The identities of the remaining recipients remain a mystery.
asserted
identities → remain → recipients
One intriguing possibility: unnamed politicians who gave evidence in private closed hearings.
asserted
who → give → hearings
Mystery diplomat revealed
With his frontbench reinstatement in Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane’s reshuffle yesterday, perhaps Damien Tudehope will have more luck convincing the government to pay his ICAC legal bills.
It’s been a busy week for the newly appointed shadow minister for energy and climate change, who is credited as the mystery man who brokered peace talks between Racing NSW and NSW MP Mark Latham.
asserted
who → reveal → NSW
As revealed by CBD last week, the truce, involving Racing NSW’s recently departed chief Peter V’landys and his replacement, Graeme Hinton, saw a long-running probe into allegedly abusive conduct towards an official by Latham dropped.
uncertain
probe → reveal → Latham
A jubilant Latham popped up in the director’s room at Randwick on Saturday.
asserted
Latham → pop → Saturday
“I’m back baby!” he posted on Instagram.
asserted
he → ’m → Instagram
A very Sydney story in where I’ve landed today.”
asserted
I → land → ?
Tudehope was modest over his role in the affair, insisting he did not hold himself out as a peace negotiator.
asserted
he → insist → negotiator
“I talk to all these people from time to time, but whether I broker peace negotiations or not is probably just some way of construing it.”
asserted
broker → talk → it
Growing pains
When he was in opposition, NSW premier Chris Minns campaigned against excessive government spending and staffing costs, promising a more prudent approach.
asserted
Minns → grow → approach
Shortly after he took the keys to Martin Place, he was delivering on his own doorstep, reducing the ministerial staff headcount and abolishing their highest pay grade.
asserted
he → take → grade
Known as MS7, this salary band allowed some chiefs of staff to receive salaries of up to $354,201.
asserted
chiefs → know → 354,201
But what a difference a term makes.
asserted
term → make → difference
Latest data reveals the workforce has swelled to 240 people, costing between $35 million and $47 million a year.
asserted
workforce → reveal → million
In comparison, the Perrottet government had 229 people at a cost of between $30 million and $39 million at the end of its term.
asserted
government → have → term
And while there’s still no MS7, the MS6 band has been bumped up to a maximum of $345,000.
“The NSW government ministerial staffing budget is increased annually consistent with standard salary increases that are received by all workers across the NSW public sector,” a spokesman said.
asserted
spokesman → ’ → sector
Heavenly appointment
PR guru David Faktor, who became the public face of St Vincent’s Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, has ensured he has a foot in two camps when he reaches the Pearly Gates.
asserted
he → become → Gates
After serving more than 20 years as spokesman for the hospital run by the Catholic Sisters of Charity, he has been engaged by Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal to advise on media and communications.
asserted
he → serve → media
The Aporia
