NSW Liberals: 'Dirty school funds' message dismissed as 'silly prank' at corruption inquiry

A former NSW Liberal Party staffer testified before

A former NSW Liberal Party staffer testified before the state's corruption watchdog on Tuesday that a text message he sent, which referenced receiving 'dirty school funds', was merely an ill-considered jest.

The remark came during an ongoing Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hearing into alleged improper donations and influence-peddling within the party's right-wing faction. The message, sent in 2021, had been flagged by investigators as potentially revealing a scheme to funnel money from developers through a school construction project.

Under questioning, the ex-operative, whose identity is protected by a non-publication order, acknowledged the text's crude wording but insisted it was never meant to be taken seriously. 'It was a stupid joke between mates, nothing more,' he told the commission, adding that no such money was ever actually transferred.

However, ICAC counsel assisting pressed the witness on

However, ICAC counsel assisting pressed the witness on why the phrase 'filthy schools money' appeared in a thread discussing a real infrastructure tender. The operative struggled to explain the context, repeatedly stating that he had no recollection of specific details from that period.

The hearing continues, with further witnesses expected to testify about fundraising practices and the alleged misuse of ministerial offices. The commission has indicated it will examine whether the text reflects broader cultural issues within the faction, rather than a single offhand comment.