The New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) has been examining payments made by Catholic Schools NSW to individuals and companies linked to the Reformers, a conservative group within the Liberal Party. The hearings have highlighted connections between the organisation and young men associated with Opus Dei and Redfield College, as well as relatives of prominent Liberal figures.
Payments under scrutiny
Icac is investigating whether payments from Catholic Schools and others to the Reformers were illegal donations, used for political purposes, exceeded donation caps, or were not declared. Catholic Schools NSW manages $3.8bn in government grants and represents the Catholic school community in the state.
Dallas McInerney, CEO of Catholic Schools since its founding nine years ago, appeared before Icac on Thursday and Friday. He acknowledged being a prominent member of the NSW Liberal right faction and chair of the right-elected leadership meeting (RELM), which includes several conservative MPs.
Employment of Reformers
McInerney faced questions about employing several Reformers at Catholic Schools NSW or giving them consultancy contracts. The most recent was Jean-Claude Perrottet, the younger brother of former premier Dominic Perrottet. Jean-Claude worked for Catholic Schools between 2023 and 2026, was promoted to director of communications in May, and made redundant in June, which McInerney attributed to an "internal restructure".
Jean-Claude and fellow Reformer Christian Ellis had previously been let go from the office of former NSW finance minister Damien Tudehope amid media reports of factional work. Ellis later set up Beckington, a consultancy, in July 2019. Catholic Schools NSW paid Beckington $130,000 over the next two years.
Consultancy contracts questioned
McInerney was repeatedly asked for evidence of what Beckington did, but no documents or emails, apart from invoices and engagement letters, have come to light. He explained that briefings on strategic advice took place at face-to-face meetings, though evidence was sparse and he could not recall details of tasks undertaken by Ellis and his business partner Jeremy Greenwood.
In 2021, the contract moved from Beckington to JPG Advisory, run by Greenwood. McInerney said the switch "involved sensitivities" and he agreed to use Jean-Claude as "a conduit". Jean-Claude was paid 50% of the estimated $135,000 fees paid by Catholic Schools to JPG. Again, written work output was unable to be produced apart from invoices.
Role of young operatives
Dylan Whitelaw, then 19, had met McInerney at the Mittagong branch of the Liberal party and later worked for Catholic Schools as a data entry clerk before moving to Beckington. He mainly organised Reformers events, but also relayed messages about financial support, including a message that McInerney was doing to "shake down Angus for $10K" during a breakfast meeting with ministers.
James Tudehope, son of Damien Tudehope, spent several years as Catholic Schools' director of communications, though he had not worked in that role previously. He is now a teacher in New Zealand and has declined to return to give evidence. Rob Assaf, another founding Reformer, was employed at Catholic Schools in 2019 in a role involving "Dallas work".
