‘Did you send that report?’ The Icac bombshell that came late for Damien Tudehope
Guardian AU
•Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:00:05 GMT
📰 What Happened
Former New South Wales finance minister Damien Tudehope was questioned on Tuesday before the state's Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) as part of Operation Rosny, which is examining branch stacking by the 'Reformers' group in the Liberal party. In the final minutes of his examination, Icac counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer showed Tudehope an email he sent in February 2023 attaching a leaked draft parliamentary report on branch stacking that Tudehope admitted he had sent to Jeremy Greenwood. The revelation has likely imperilled his parliamentary career, though he has not been named a person of interest and has stood down as shadow attorney general.
🔍 The Backstory
Operation Rosny is Icac's ongoing investigation into the Reformers, a group of conservative Catholic men who sought to take over Liberal party branches from moderate and centre-right factions. Jeremy Greenwood is one of the key figures who set up the Reformers. The leaked report relates to a parliamentary inquiry into branch stacking in the Hills area.
🎯 Why It Matters
The episode goes to the integrity of the NSW Liberal party and the handling of a confidential parliamentary report, raising questions about leaks and accountability among senior politicians. It also illustrates Icac's role in scrutinising party-machine conduct and how a single document can upend a political career. The fallout could have wider implications for factional politics and trust in the leadership of one of Australia's major parties.
Former New South Wales finance minister Damien Tudehope was questioned on Tuesday before the state's Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) as part of Operation Rosny, which is examining branch stacking by the 'Reformers' group in the Liberal party. In the final minutes of his examination, Icac counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer showed Tudehope an email he sent in February 2023 attaching a leaked draft parliamentary report on branch stacking that Tudehope admitted he had sent to Jeremy Greenwood. The revelation has likely imperilled his parliamentary career, though he has not been named a person of interest and has stood down as shadow attorney general.
Operation Rosny is Icac's ongoing investigation into the Reformers, a group of conservative Catholic men who sought to take over Liberal party branches from moderate and centre-right factions. Jeremy Greenwood is one of the key figures who set up the Reformers. The leaked report relates to a parliamentary inquiry into branch stacking in the Hills area.
The episode goes to the integrity of the NSW Liberal party and the handling of a confidential parliamentary report, raising questions about leaks and accountability among senior politicians. It also illustrates Icac's role in scrutinising party-machine conduct and how a single document can upend a political career. The fallout could have wider implications for factional politics and trust in the leadership of one of Australia's major parties.