ICAC: Mike Gallacher, Liberal in exile, is furious with Mike Baird

Former police minister Mike Gallacher is fuming after Premier Mike Baird confirmed he would not be able to rejoin Cabinet or the parliamentary Liberal Party in the wake of the ICAC findings.

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FORMER police minister Mike Gallacher says he cannot understand how Opposition Leader Luke Foley has a “criminal record for drink driving” while he has “no criminal record” and yet is not allowed back in the parliamentary Liberal Party.

Former police minister Mike Gallacher.

Saying he had a medal for integrity from his time as a police officer Mr Gallacher said, even with no corruption finding against him, he was facing the end of his government career.

Premier Mike Baird confirmed yesterday Mr Gallacher, dumped when ICAC first accused him in May, 2014, would not be returning to cabinet or the parliamentary Liberal Party.

“The bad news for people is I’m not going away. If people want me to be an independent and give me that freedom, so be it,” Mr Gallacher said, vowing to use his vote in the upper house to test the government.

In a brief phone call with Mr Baird at 1.20pm yesterday, three hours after the Operation Spicer ICAC report was released, Mr Gallacher was told he had no future with the government.

Mr Baird came to the decision after meeting with the leadership group, which included Deputy Premier Troy Grant, Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian and Nationals Deputy Leader Adrian Piccoli.

ICAC found Mr Gallacher tried to evade the law and was an “untruthful witness” but did not recommend the DPP consider charges.

Mr Gallacher is understood to have sought to return to the parliamentary Liberal Party but was denied that as well.

“Luke Foley’s got a criminal record for drink driving. I don’t have any criminal record. It’s an interesting precedent given I haven’t been referred to anyone or anything for criminal offences and politicians get ­accused of untruthfulness regularly,’’ Mr Gallacher said.

“I can’t take this to court because it’s casual observations.”

Operation Spicer

Mr Gallacher believed his fate was sealed when Counsel Assisting Geoffrey Watson, SC, made a statement about him on May 2, 2014, that they had a witness who was saying he was the “mastermind” of an illegal donations scheme and ICAC felt it had to back it up.

“This is convicting me in the court of public opinion and moving me straight to ­execution,” Mr Gallacher said.

The findings

“I tried to take that up to Baird but he said, ‘Sorry, you have to go’. I have medals upstairs for integrity. The Premier and senior members of the government ... none of them have backed me.”

ICAC’s report was scathing of Mr Gallacher, labelling him an “untruthful witness” and saying he was tied up in schemes to break electoral laws, citing evidence from NSW Liberal Party candidate for Charlestown Andrew Cornwell.

“He said Mr Gallacher said to him: ‘You could technically sell a few raffle tickets to (developer) Hilton Grugeon’,’’ the report said.

The fallout

The report also said Mr Gallacher sought a political donation from Buildev co-founder David Sharpe by inviting him to a New Year’s Eve fundraising function: “Mr Gallacher knew they were property developers and he sought the political donation with the intention of evading the election funding laws relating to the ban on property developers making political donations.”