A mysterious "carpet man" implicated in the NSW corruption watchdog's latest political donation probe has been outed as former coal mogul Nathan Tinkler.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is probing claims Mr Tinkler's Buildev was one of a number of banned donors to funnel tens of thousands of dollars to the NSW Liberal party via "sham" company EightByFive.
The revelations have ensnared former NSW ministers Chris Hartcher and Mike Gallacher, with ICAC Commissioner Megan Latham on Tuesday agreeing to suspend the inquiry so investigators can further examine Mr Gallacher's activities.
ICAC witness and Buildev executive Darren Williams last week identified a "carpet man" with whom he was arranging payments as prominent Newcastle carpet salesman Paul Murphy.
But on Tuesday the inquiry was shown text messages from Mr Williams to an unknown recipient, whom counsel assisting Geoffrey Watson SC has named as Mr Tinkler.
"You ok mate if we get some more carpet?" Mr Williams wrote on March 11, 2011.
"Gees how much?" Mr Tinkler replied, to which Mr Williams responded: "You want her gone don't you? 50".
The exchange came two weeks before the 2011 NSW election and days after the prospective Hunter minister, Mr Gallacher, went head-to-head in a public forum with Newcastle's incumbent Labor MP, Jodi McKay, over a controversial coal loader.
Ms McKay opposed the loader, which the inquiry has heard was worth a fortune to Mr Tinkler.
"How much is sharpie (Buildev co-founder David Sharpe) puttin in?" Mr Tinkler then wrote to Mr Williams.
"Generosity starting to get tested but yeah whatever it takes."
The ICAC has previously heard Mr Tinkler plotted with former NSW Labor minister Joe Tripodi to depose Ms McKay after she refused a bribe offer.
Emails obtained by ICAC show Buildev's Mr Sharpe and his family were guests at a $1000-a-head fundraising dinner held for Mr Gallacher in late 2010.
Mr Sharpe told the inquiry he was "not a hundred per cent sure but I think Buildev paid", even though, as a property developer, Buildev was barred from making political donations.
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