Jodi McKay says NSW Labor is in 'terrible state'

ICAC is due to hear from upper house MP Ernest Wong who allegedly told the now suspended NSW Labor boss that the party received a potential illegal donation.

NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay (left) says the party's general secretary Kaila Murnain has to be suspended.

NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay (left) says the party's general secretary Kaila Murnain has to be suspended. Source: AAP

NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay has admitted the party is in a "terrible state" after an anti-corruption inquiry was told a senior official knew about a potentially illegal donation made to the party.

The opposition leader said suspended general secretary Kaila Murnain's career with the party is over and described NSW Labor as being in a "terrible state" following this week's Independent Commission Against Corruption hearings.

Former senator Sam Dastyari also called for the state branch to seriously look at a "proper, full statewide ban on private donations" following his testimony before ICAC.

 

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The ICAC inquiry is examining whether Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo, who is now banned from Australia, was the true source of $100,000 said to be donated by 12 people from a 2015 Chinese Friends of Labor dinner.

The inquiry heard that Ms Murnain was told by upper house MP Ernest Wong in September 2016 that Mr Huang - a prohibited donor - had donated to the party.

She said she couldn't remember the donation amount but connected it to the money raised at the 2015 CFL dinner at the centre of the ICAC inquiry.

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NSW Labor's Kaila Murnain is giving evidence at the Independent Commission against Corruption.
AAP

 

As a property developer, Mr Huang was prohibited by law from making donations to NSW political parties.

An emotional Ms Murnain, who took the top job in 2016, on Thursday said she was scared for the ALP after being told of the potential illegal donation.

She had earlier told the inquiry the party's lawyer Ian Robertson advised her to "forget the conversation happened".


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Presented by Yang J. Joo

Source: SBS News, AAP




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