Public inquiry into allegations concerning political donations

Wednesday 31 July 2019

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will hold a public inquiry starting Monday 26 August 2019 as part of an investigation it is conducting into allegations concerning political donations, the NSW Branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), members of Chinese Friends of Labor and others.

The Commission is investigating whether, from January 2015, ALP NSW Branch officials, members of Chinese Friends of Labor, political donors and others have entered into, or carried out, a scheme to circumvent prohibitions or requirements under Part 6 of the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981 relating to political donations.

The general scope and purpose of the public inquiry is to gather evidence relevant to the allegation being investigated under section 13A of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988. This section addresses the ICAC’s function of investigating matters referred to it by the NSW Electoral Commission.

The public inquiry will start at 10:00 am and will be held in the Commission's hearing room on Level 7, 255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney. The inquiry is set down for approximately six weeks.

Chief Commissioner the Hon Peter Hall QC will preside at the public inquiry, and Counsel Assisting the Commission will be Mr Scott Robertson.

A witness list for the first week of the public inquiry will be published closer to the commencement date of the proceedings.