‘Shame is the punishment’: as Icac delves into the shadowy Reformers, ‘whales’ are coming to the surface

The corruption watchdog is looking into allegations about Catholic conservative Liberals – but others are getting caught up in the hearings Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast “I think they are whale hunting. We just don’t know yet which whale they will hit,” one Liberal insider said after the end of the second week of hearings before the New South Wales Independent Commission against Corruption. The corruption watchdog is inquiring into allegations a group of young Liberals, known as the Reformers, took illegal donations – including from Catholic Schools NSW, a hotelier, and a fugitive property developer, Jean Nassif – in order to fund branch stacking. The Reformers were intent on gaining control of the Liberal party and ultimately delivering more conservative policies on abortion, euthanasia, marriage equality and climate change. Property developers and the hotel industry are banned donors in NSW. Donations are also capped and must be declared. All three donors would have breached these requirements – if the donations are found to be political donations. Some senior Liberals, such as the federal party president, Tony Abbott, this week dismiss