Two NSW Liberal MPs stand down over ICAC revelations

Two NSW Liberal MPs have stood down from the party following revelations at ICAC.

20140806001008817798-original.jpg

Property developer and father of Charlestown MP Andrew Cornwell, Brien Cornwell (left), departs after giving evidence at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (AAP)

NSW Liberal MPs Andrew Cornwell and Tim Owen have stood down from the party following revelations at the corruption watchdog on Wednesday.

Mr Cornwell will also relinquish the position of government whip.

"I make no judgment regarding the outcome of Operation Spicer," said NSW Premier Mike Baird in a statement.

"However, it will take time for the allegations to be resolved, and I am not prepared to allow this to become a distraction for the party or the government.

Earlier, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) heard Dr Cornwell was offered $10,000 in a brown paper bag by Newcastle mayor Jeff McCloy before the 2011 state election.

The MP told the commission he was offered the cash by Mr McCloy while sitting in the mayor's Bentley.

The bag was described as either a brown paper bag or brown envelope full of $100 bills.

Counsel assisting Geoffrey Watson said Dr Cornwell passed the money to a Liberal party colleague and the money was fed through a company called Harmony Hill and eventually funnelled back to the NSW Liberal Party.

"It would seem to us these actions were the result of inexperience," Mr Watson said of Dr Cornwell.

"There is no evidence that Mr Cornwell gave any preference to Mr McCloy."

Mr Owen, who is a former top-ranking RAAF officer, announced in May he wouldn't be recontesting his seat in the 2015 election after being named by the ICAC.

While he claimed he had "no knowledge" of any funding irregularities in his 2011 election campaign, he conceded it was "highly likely" that prohibited donors contributed to his campaign.

Dr Cornwell's office has been contacted for comment.

Mr McCloy declined to comment on the allegations levelled against him.

"I must wait until I have my turn in the box," he told AAP.

"You'll hear my evidence in a few days."

City of Newcastle Greens Councillor Michael Osborne said Mr McCloy should stand aside as mayor during the ICAC's investigations.

"He should really do the right thing and stand aside so that Newcastle council doesn't get tainted by this air of corruption," he said.




Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world