Would the 'big man' please stand up?
That is the lingering question at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).
Witnesses at the corruption inquiry have stated the 'big man', who is accused of organising a $120,000 donation to the NSW Liberal party for the 2011 election, was either ex-premier Barry O'Farrell or businessman Nathan Tinkler.
"I don't know who the big man is," Mr O'Farrell told the ICAC on Tuesday.
He later added: "I can't possibly know what other people call me."
But while the big man remains a mystery, Mr O'Farrell showed he had learned from his earlier, disastrous appearance at the ICAC.
Four months ago, an ashen-faced Mr O'Farrell was forced to resign as premier after misleading the watchdog over a $3,000 bottle of Grange wine.
On Tuesday morning, counsel assisting, Geoffrey Watson SC, and Mr O'Farrell were at odds straight away - a thin veil of joviality masked a deep antagonism between the pair.
Mr O'Farrell took a few pot shots at the media covering the inquiry and cracked cringe-inducing jokes during his hour-long stint in the box.
He seemed more confident this time around and far less definitive in his answers.
Despite the entertaining start to the day, the identity of the 'big man' remains undetermined.
The 'big man' shot to prominence after a December 2010 text message from disgraced Newcastle MP Tim Owen's campaign manager to former police minister Mike Gallacher was tendered at ICAC.
"How's our Big Man going with the $120k," the text read.
Mr Gallacher and fellow relegated Liberal and ex-cabinet minister Chris Hartcher both told the ICAC that Mr O'Farrell was called the 'big man'.
"You probably would agree that from time to time you've been called the 'big man'," Mr Watson asked Mr O'Farrell.
"I'm happy to say, Mr Watson, as I told you last time, that following my extensive use of the gym over the past four years it hasn't happened for a long time," Mr O'Farrell said.
"I knew you were going there," Mr Watson said.
After Mr O'Farrell's testimony, a property developer who donated $20,000 to an alleged Liberal slush fund was accused of recently wiping all history from a mobile phone he handed over to the ICAC.
Leigh Brinkmeyer said he bought the phone off eBay about two years ago and used it as a travel phone when he was away from his Queanbeyan home.
But the ICAC's forensic specialists found no record of it being used and further evidence data had recently been deleted.
The inquiry heard Mr Brinkmeyer hadn't travelled much, outside his two trips to ICAC, in the past two years.
Mr Brinkmeyer denied he had deleted information from the phone recently.
In December 2010, Mr Brinkmeyer donated $20,000 to the Free Enterprise Foundation, an alleged Liberal slush fund used to funnel banned donations to the NSW Liberals before the 2011 NSW election.
Property developers have been banned from making political donations to NSW parties since 2009.
The hearings are set to finish on Friday with former assistant federal treasurer Arthur Sinodinos scheduled for a second appearance.
Share
