The barrister leading a major NSW cash-for-favours probe has apologised after his questioning of former Liberal minister Chris Hartcher descended into a shouting match.
The verbal sparring between Mr Hartcher and counsel assisting the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), Geoffrey Watson SC, became so heated on Monday that Commissioner Megan Latham warned both sides to "back off right now".
On Tuesday, the final day of public evidence in the ICAC's Liberal donation rort inquiry ahead of a two-month adjournment, Mr Watson came bearing an apology.
"Yesterday my standard of conduct fell well below what you were entitled to expect from me and I descended into - well, people know what I'm talking about," Mr Watson told the inquiry.
"I could try and blame it on the fact that I'm tired, or I could try and blame it on the fact that I'm red-haired, or something like that.
"I'll just leave it at this: I apologise for what I did and I will try and correct my conduct."
Mr Watson has also cast more light on Mr Hartcher's possible motives in an alleged scam whereby more than $400,000 in political donations were funnelled through a front company and fake invoices issued to disguise their true purpose.
It's alleged the money was used to fund election campaigns for Central Coast MPs Darren Webber and Chris Spence, both members of Mr Hartcher's conservative Liberal faction, and that Mr Hartcher "pocketed" some of the cash.
"It was also done to allow Mr Spence and Mr Webber the freedom to campaign and to doorknock in their seats ... thereby enhancing their prospects of election in two of the key marginal seats in the Central Coast," Mr Watson said.
Mr Watson said Mr Hartcher stood to benefit from having two factional supporters in parliament.
Mr Hartcher, who stepped down from the ministry late last year after ICAC officers raided his office, was being cross-examined on Tuesday morning.
Tempers have become increasingly frayed as the ICAC's twin probes Credo and Spicer have continued into their third month.
Commissioner Ms Latham on Tuesday admonished lawyers who have been caught on hearing room microphones making "unhelpful, irrelevant and sometimes insulting" comments.
The inquiry will be adjourned until August.
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