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Liberal MPs Tim Owen and Andrew Cornwell quit after Icac admissions Liberal MPs Tim Owen and Andrew Cornwell quit after Icac admissions
(about 1 hour later)
NSW MPs Tim Owen and Andrew Cornwell have resigned from parliament after Owen admitted lying to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.NSW MPs Tim Owen and Andrew Cornwell have resigned from parliament after Owen admitted lying to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
The former Liberal MPs have both been questioned by Icac about whether they took illegal donations from property developers. They had stepped aside from the party and taken positions on the crossbench but the premier, Mike Baird, was pressured to boot them from parliament after Owen admitted lying to Icac.The former Liberal MPs have both been questioned by Icac about whether they took illegal donations from property developers. They had stepped aside from the party and taken positions on the crossbench but the premier, Mike Baird, was pressured to boot them from parliament after Owen admitted lying to Icac.
The NSW Speaker, Shelley Hancock, announced the resignations to parliament just before question time on Tuesday.The NSW Speaker, Shelley Hancock, announced the resignations to parliament just before question time on Tuesday.
The resignations mean there will be byelections in the coming months in Newcastle and Charlestown.The resignations mean there will be byelections in the coming months in Newcastle and Charlestown.
The premier, Mike Baird, told Parliament everyone in NSW had the right to feel “appalled, angered and betrayed”.The premier, Mike Baird, told Parliament everyone in NSW had the right to feel “appalled, angered and betrayed”.
The opposition leader, John Robertson, urged Baird to introduce full public funding of elections to remove the “corrosive influence of donations once and for all”.The opposition leader, John Robertson, urged Baird to introduce full public funding of elections to remove the “corrosive influence of donations once and for all”.
Baird said the government had already taken action, launching reviews into donation rules and the governance of the Liberal party.Baird said the government had already taken action, launching reviews into donation rules and the governance of the Liberal party.
NSW’s finance laws, specifically political donations and public funding, are being examined by the former head of Sydney Water, Kerry Schott, with changes expected in the wake of Icac revelations.NSW’s finance laws, specifically political donations and public funding, are being examined by the former head of Sydney Water, Kerry Schott, with changes expected in the wake of Icac revelations.
Owen told Icac on Monday that either his campaign manager, Hugh Thomson, or the former NSW police minister Mike Gallacher had arranged a $10,000 donation from property developer and now Newcastle mayor Jeff McCloy in December 2010.Owen told Icac on Monday that either his campaign manager, Hugh Thomson, or the former NSW police minister Mike Gallacher had arranged a $10,000 donation from property developer and now Newcastle mayor Jeff McCloy in December 2010.
He said the money had been returned to McCloy – but on Tuesday said he and McCloy had an agreement to lie about the return of the money to the commission.He said the money had been returned to McCloy – but on Tuesday said he and McCloy had an agreement to lie about the return of the money to the commission.
He admitted to Icac the money was actually “rolled into [his] campaign”.He admitted to Icac the money was actually “rolled into [his] campaign”.
Owen said he and McCloy agreed on Sunday that Owen would tell Icac he was given about $2,000 by McCloy but returned it the next day.Owen said he and McCloy agreed on Sunday that Owen would tell Icac he was given about $2,000 by McCloy but returned it the next day.
Citing Owen’s evidence from Monday, McCloy’s lawyer asked, “if the words that follow ... ‘and then I went back to his house after that and basically dropped the envelope back in his letter box’,” were false.Citing Owen’s evidence from Monday, McCloy’s lawyer asked, “if the words that follow ... ‘and then I went back to his house after that and basically dropped the envelope back in his letter box’,” were false.
“Yes. It was,” the former deputy commander of the Australian forces in Afghanistan and Iraq said. “You said, ‘I think I just put a little note on it that said no thanks,’ – that answer was false,” McCloy’s lawyer said.“Yes. It was,” the former deputy commander of the Australian forces in Afghanistan and Iraq said. “You said, ‘I think I just put a little note on it that said no thanks,’ – that answer was false,” McCloy’s lawyer said.
Owen: “Correct.”Owen: “Correct.”
During the Sunday meeting the men also discussed whether McCloy should resign as the lord mayor of Newcastle, Icac heard.During the Sunday meeting the men also discussed whether McCloy should resign as the lord mayor of Newcastle, Icac heard.
Owen denied McCloy had asked him to come clean about the cash. “You said, ‘My wife will divorce me. I’ve sworn on a stack of Bibles that I didn’t receive any money,’ ” McCloy’s lawyer said. “I didn’t say that to him, no,” Owen said.Owen denied McCloy had asked him to come clean about the cash. “You said, ‘My wife will divorce me. I’ve sworn on a stack of Bibles that I didn’t receive any money,’ ” McCloy’s lawyer said. “I didn’t say that to him, no,” Owen said.
Owen said he tried to make the statement on Monday afternoon but was cut off by counsel assisting the commission, Geoffrey Watson.Owen said he tried to make the statement on Monday afternoon but was cut off by counsel assisting the commission, Geoffrey Watson.
Cornwell admitted at Icac last week to receiving $20,000 from property developers and announced he would resign at next year’s election. He sought parliamentary leave after his appearance at the hearing.Cornwell admitted at Icac last week to receiving $20,000 from property developers and announced he would resign at next year’s election. He sought parliamentary leave after his appearance at the hearing.
He told Icac he had accepted $10,000 in a brown paper bag in a Bentley from McCloy, in the leadup to the 2011 election, despite there being a ban on developer donations.He told Icac he had accepted $10,000 in a brown paper bag in a Bentley from McCloy, in the leadup to the 2011 election, despite there being a ban on developer donations.
He also confessed to using $10,000 from the sham sale of a Rex Newell painting to a property developer to pay his payroll tax bill.He also confessed to using $10,000 from the sham sale of a Rex Newell painting to a property developer to pay his payroll tax bill.
Liberal casualties at Icac
Arthur Sinodinos (NSW federal senator)
Steps down in March as federal assistant treasurer over his dealings with the company Australian Water Holdings.
Barry O’Farrell (Ku-ring-gai)
Resigns as NSW premier on 16 April after misleading Icac over a $3,000 bottle of wine. Not accused of corruption.
Chris Hartcher (Terrigal)
Steps down as energy minister in December, amid corruption allegations. Moves to the cross benches in February.
Chris Spence (The Entrance)
Moves to the cross benches in February amid corruption allegations. Announces in June that he will not contest 2015 state election.
Darren Webber (Wyong)
Moves to the cross benches in February amid corruption allegations. Announces in June that he will not contest 2015 state election.
Marie Ficarra (upper house)
Allegedly solicited banned donation. Moves to the cross benches in April.
Mike Gallacher (upper house)
Allegedly hatched a “corrupt scheme”. Steps down as police minister on 2 May and joins cross bench.
Tim Owen (Newcastle)
Announces on 12 May that he will not contest the 2015 state election because of recurring health issues and Icac allegations. Concedes banned donors “probably” contributed to his 2011 political campaign. Moves to the cross benches on 6 August on the first day of new round of Icac hearings. Quits parliament on 12 August after admitting to lying to Icac about returning $10,000 to developer and now Newcastle mayor Jeff McCloy.
Andrew Cornwell (Charlestown)
Moves to the cross benches, resigns as government whip on 6 August after allegations he was offered $10,000 in a brown paper bag by McCloy in his Bentley. He later admits to receiving the money, in addition to a $10,000 bribe from another developer. Announces on 8 August that he will not contest 2015 state election. Quits parliament on 12 August.