ICAC inquiry: NSW Liberals confront MPs Bassett, Edwards and Baumann
NSW
Please explain: Liberal MPs Garry Edwards, Bart Bassett and Craig Baumann. Photo: Ben Rushton, Cole Bennetts
The NSW Liberals have ramped up the pressure on three MPs who appeared before the Independent Commission Against Corruption's inquiry into political donations, asking that they clarify by November 17 whether or not they have broken state or federal laws.
The letter from Liberal Party state director Tony Nutt to Londonderry MP Bart Bassett, Swansea MP Garry Edwards and Port Stephens MP Craig Baumann, making the request comes amid a push for them to resign from the party.
But the MPs who have resigned from the parliamentary party but remain members of the broader organisation have dismissed the call. Mr Edwards and Mr Baumann are preselected for their seats, while Mr Bassett is seeking preselection.
In a letter to Premier Mike Baird about his decision, Mr Nutt notes the Liberal Party constitution empowers him to suspend or expel a member "whose conduct may constitute an offence under a state or federal law".
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He says he will direct the attention of the MPs "to evidence they [and others] gave at the public hearings of the ICAC held earlier this year".
The ICAC heard Mr Baumann took $79,684 in secret donations from developers Jeff McCloy and Hilton Grugeon and hid payments by issuing "sham" invoices.
It heard allegations a company associated with coal mogul Nathan Tinkler made an illegal donation of $18,000 for Mr Bassett's campaign in December 2010, while Mr McCloy admitted he gave cash in an envelope to Mr Edwards before the 2011 election.
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ICAC inquiry: NSW Liberals confront MPs Bassett, Edwards and Baumann