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Previously suppressed emails before a corruption inquiry raise concerns over the access donors have to senior politicians, reports Kate McClymont.

Labor has accused the federal government of taking "cash for questions" after it was revealed that Tony Abbott's chief of staff, Peta Credlin, planned to use Parliament to showcase the case of a prominent Liberal Party donor against the carbon tax.

Emails between Ms Credlin and the former chief fund-raiser of the NSW Liberal Party were suppressed last week by the Independent Commission Against Corruption after lawyers acting for Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos said they could be subject to parliamentary privilege.

Peta Credlin, chief of staff to Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

But the suppression order was lifted on Monday after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bronwyn Bishop, announced that no claim for privilege would be made after Ms Credlin indicated she had no objection to the emails being made public.

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The emails reveal that, in March 2011, while the Coalition was in opposition, Ms Credlin used a major donor to the Liberal Party, Brickworks, as part of Tony Abbott's campaign against the carbon tax.

Ms Credlin is married to BrianLoughnane, the party's federal director. Brickworks was one of the largest corporate donors to the Liberal Party, giving $384,000 in a nine-month period from July 2010 to April 2011. As well as its brand Austral Bricks, Brickworks also lists property development as a core business.

Paul Nicolaou, right, arrives at ICAC. Photo: Daniel Munoz

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Liberals' 'cash for questions' link

A special prosecutor tasked with investigating a controversial campaign to woo ethnic voters to the B.C. Liberal Party has approved Elections Act charges though the allegations relate to a 2012 by-election and the full investigation of the ethnic outreach program wont be complete until next year.

The Criminal Justice Branch on Monday announced charges against Brian Bonney, a former government communications director, and Mark Robertson, a Liberal Party employee. Charges were also approved against a numbered corporation.

A copy of the sworn information alleges political contributions and expenses contravened the Elections Act. The information says the contributions and expenses involved a campaign employee.

On September 5, 2014, [special prosecutor David] Butcher advised the Criminal Justice Branch that he had approved charges against the above noted individuals and corporation, a statement read.

The evidence in support of these charges was gathered during the course of the investigation for which [Mr.] Butcher has been providing assistance in the form of legal advice to investigators.

The branch said Mr. Butchers investigation into the ethnic outreach program as a whole is expected to run until early 2015.

Once the investigation is complete and Mr. Butcher has reviewed the whole of the material provided by police, he will release the results of any decisions that he makes, the statement read.

Jillian Stead, a B.C. Liberal Party spokeswoman, said the issue relates to financial reporting.

In November, 2013, it was brought to our attention that the party had misreported a $2,240 expenditure related to the 2012 Port Moody Coquitlam by-election, she wrote in an e-mail.

Liberal Premier Christy Clarks office referred a request for comment back to the party.

Link:
Former political aide to B.C. Liberals charged with Elections Act offences

Sept. 10, 2014, 1:35 a.m.

Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan has called for party operatives who knowingly channelled banned property developer donations through the Canberra-based Free Enterprise Foundation to face draconian punishment.

Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan has called for party operatives who knowingly channelled banned property developer donations through the Canberra-based Free Enterprise Foundation to face draconian punishment.

One of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's key enforcers and a former party president in NSW, Senator Heffernan is among a growing number of Liberals, including former NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, appalled at the revelations coming out of the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

He told a recent party room meeting that anyone who has "desecrated" the reputation and purpose of the Free Enterprise Foundation "should have their nuts cut off".

On Tuesday, he told Fairfax Media the Free Enterprise Foundationwas established with honourable intent but it had been "besmirched".

But he declined to name who exactly had besmirched the fund-raising body, which ICAC has heard washed illegal donations from NSW property developers after Labor changed donations rules in 2009.

"The Free Enterprise Foundation was set up to collect money from generous people who didn't want to be harassed by publicity of their generosity. It was to fund election campaigns at a federal level and was quite legitimate," Senator Heffernan said.

"These people have besmirched the reputation of the foundation and, yes, whoever agreed to do that should have their nuts cut off."

ICAC has heard a number of party officials in NSW, including chief fund-raiser Paul Nicolaou, former state director Mark Neeham and current senator Arthur Sinodinos attended meetings at which the use of the FEF to channel developer donations back to the state party was discussed.

Excerpt from:
Heffernan lashes Liberals who oversaw illegal donations

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