The Hills were alive with a NSW Liberal factional war – now the corruption watchdog is sniffing around
News Source
•Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:34 GMT
📰 What Happened
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) has begun hearings into serious corruption allegations involving Liberal Party operatives in Sydney's Hills district. The investigations centre on events in 2022 and involve developer Jean Nassif of Toplace, who showed ex-deputy mayor Alan Haselden plans for 'colossal structures' at Castle Hill. Two separate corruption hearings are now underway, placing the NSW Liberals under intense scrutiny ahead of the March state election.
🔍 The Backstory
The Hills shire in north-west Sydney has long been a stronghold for the NSW Liberal Party. But internal factional wars have split the party, and development approvals have been at the centre of the disputes. Former deputy mayor Alan Haselden told a 2023 parliamentary inquiry he was stunned by Nassif's ambitious development plans. The Icac hearings threaten to destabilise the Liberals, who are already worried about rising support for One Nation. Labor knows this situation well - it took a decade to recover from its own corruption scandals.
🎯 Why It Matters
Corruption in local government affects everyone's hip pocket. When developers and politicians cut shady deals, the community ends up paying more for housing and loses trust in democracy.
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) has begun hearings into serious corruption allegations involving Liberal Party operatives in Sydney's Hills district. The investigations centre on events in 2022 and involve developer Jean Nassif of Toplace, who showed ex-deputy mayor Alan Haselden plans for 'colossal structures' at Castle Hill. Two separate corruption hearings are now underway, placing the NSW Liberals under intense scrutiny ahead of the March state election.
The Hills shire in north-west Sydney has long been a stronghold for the NSW Liberal Party. But internal factional wars have split the party, and development approvals have been at the centre of the disputes. Former deputy mayor Alan Haselden told a 2023 parliamentary inquiry he was stunned by Nassif's ambitious development plans. The Icac hearings threaten to destabilise the Liberals, who are already worried about rising support for One Nation. Labor knows this situation well - it took a decade to recover from its own corruption scandals.
Corruption in local government affects everyone's hip pocket. When developers and politicians cut shady deals, the community ends up paying more for housing and loses trust in democracy.