Robert Assaf, a 30-year-old member of the Reformers, a conservative faction within the Liberal party, gave evidence before the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Thursday. His statements highlighted the group's view of their activities as both a struggle for influence and a disregard for the legal boundaries surrounding political fundraising. Assaf and others in the Reformers are now under investigation for potentially soliciting and accepting donations from prohibited sources, including those that may exceed legal limits, as part of a campaign to grow party membership.
What the Reformers stood for
The Reformers, a faction within the Liberal party created in 2017 by Assaf and Christian Ellis, were driven by a vision for more conservative policies. They advocated for positions on topics such as opposition to same-sex marriage, transgender rights, abortion, and euthanasia. According to Assaf, these views emerged in response to an internal divide within the party between the more religiously driven hard-right faction and the more moderate centre-right group. He described the split as a deeply factionalized and often hostile environment.
In an effort to illustrate the nature of the factional tensions, Assaf compared the internal Liberal party dynamics to Mel Gibson’s film Braveheart. He described how different groups, like warring kingdoms, would often clash and then briefly unite for a larger cause. 'It was like warring kingdoms,' Assaf said during his testimony. 'They would slaughter each other, and then every now and then they’d come together for a big fight.' This analogy reflected his view of the Reformers' role in navigating and potentially reshaping the party.
Legal implications and branch-stacking
While branch-stacking—recruiting members for the purpose of influencing internal party decisions—is not illegal in itself, the Icac is scrutinizing whether the Reformers violated the NSW Electoral Funding Act. The inquiry is looking into whether the group accepted or solicited donations in amounts that may have exceeded legal limits or came from prohibited sources, such as individuals banned from giving to political parties.
Assaf was directly questioned about his knowledge of the laws concerning political donations. His response revealed a troubling perspective: 'We didn’t think the law applied to us.' He explained that the group believed their actions were not part of an electoral campaign but rather 'internal Liberal party machinations.' He insisted that 'it doesn’t count as anything to do with electoral laws or any other law.' This stance suggests a significant disregard for the regulatory framework governing political fundraising.
Despite the serious allegations, Assaf described the Reformers as a grassroots effort of young, like-minded individuals. He claimed the group was just a 'bunch of 20-year-old people trying to figure things out.' However, the inquiry revealed another issue: the Reformers may have accepted $2 million from the fugitive property developer Jean Nassif in exchange for influence or outcomes he sought within the party.
Political connections and the Reformers' network
Assaf testified that key Liberal figures had some level of awareness of the Reformers' activities. He said federal opposition leader Angus Taylor was 'around it' and described him as supportive, though not highly involved. 'He definitely wasn’t opposed,' Assaf stated, acknowledging Taylor's indirect role. Though not accused of wrongdoing, his brothers, Jean-Claude and Charles Perrottet, are named in the Icac allegations. Assaf noted Perrottet's brothers, as well as himself, had attended the same independent Catholic school.
After spending a year in a Catholic seminary, Assaf went on to work in the federal parliament for a range of politicians, including former prime minister Tony Abbott. Abbott is among those who gave speeches at Reformers’ recruitment events. Assaf described Abbott as a leader who supported the values they were trying to promote.
Another figure linked to the Reformers is former MP Alex Tudehope. Assaf described him as 'a warrior for the values he cared about.' Tudehope had to step aside from his roles in the Liberal party after being called as a witness for Icac. While no accusations are directly placed on him, his involvement raises questions about the broader political and personal networks connected to the group.
Recruitment and strategy
The Reformers' approach to recruitment was strategic. They organized events and discussions centered on conservative themes, aiming to attract new members to the party. Assaf and Ellis, the group’s co-founders, had formed a close working relationship during the No campaign in the same-sex marriage plebiscite. This experience likely inspired their decision to create the Reformers. Their model for recruitment was partly inspired by how Assaf himself had been recruited.
During the hearing, Icac presented Assaf with a draft document from his colleague, Christian Ellis. The document outlined a plan to sign up 5,000 new Christian conservative members to the party, a target that significantly exceeded the existing membership of 4,000 in the NSW Liberal division at the time. Assaf confirmed that while growing the party was an important part of their process, the ultimate goal was to bring about 'policy change' to align the Liberal party with more conservative values.