Labor lawyer Ian Robertson denies telling Kaila Murnain to keep quiet over donation
A longstanding lawyer for NSW Labor has “categorically” denied ever instructing then-party boss Kaila Murnain to “cover up” a potentially illegal $100,000 donation involving exiled Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A longstanding lawyer for NSW Labor has “categorically” denied ever instructing then-party boss Kaila Murnain to “cover up” a potentially illegal $100,000 donation involving exiled Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo.
This is in direct contradiction of evidence previously provided by Ms Murnain, who told ICAC the lawyer advised her to “forget” about the matter when they met after hours on September 16, 2016.
Holding Redlich lawyer Ian Robertson on Monday told the corruption watchdog he couldn’t remember meeting Ms Murnain that evening at his firm but would “never advise a client to behave in that manner”.
Ms Murnain went to see Mr Robertson hours after learning about the dodgy donation from then Labor MP Ernest Wong at a clandestine meeting at the back of NSW parliament.
The now-suspended general secretary alleged Mr Robertson told her: “There is no need to do anything from here. Don’t record this meeting, don’t put it in your diary. Forget the conversation happened with Ernest … I won’t be billing you for this either.”
The inquiry has heard Mr Huang — banned from making donations as a property developer — delivered an ALDI shopping bag containing $100,000 cash to Labor’s headquarters following a fundraising dinner in 2015.
It is investigating whether a series of “straw” or fake donors were used to mask the origins of Mr Huang’s money.
Mr Robertson “strenuously” denied Ms Murnain’s allegations including that he told her to “forget” about her chat with Mr Wong.
He said it was his belief they met to discuss a separate donations matter involving state Labor MP Nick Lalich and did not recall Ms Murnain ever mentioning Mr Huang.
“If she had come to tell me about false donors, Huang, $100,000 in cash – that is simply extraordinary,” he said.
“I’m certain I would have remembered it and I’m equally certain I would have told her it would have to be dealt with quickly involving the electoral commission.”
“I categorically deny telling her or advising her in any way that should be covered up.”
Asked by counsel assisting Scott Robertson whether he recalled Ms Murnain ever saying there had been a “massive f**k up”, the lawyer said: “I don’t recall her using that specific language”.
“There there were more than a few occasions where I think she informed me that things weren’t going well but I don’t recall her using profanity to me,” he added.
Earlier, Mr Robertson said he “regrets” not picking up a misleading document sent by the ALP to the NSW Electoral Commission about the Chinese donation scandal.
Mr Robertson, who advised former PM Bob Hawke on legal matters for many years, charged the Labor Party a legal fee for reviewing the misleading answers.
Under questioning in the ICAC witness box today, Mr Robertson agreed that “with the benefit of hindsight” that “the response is incorrect”.
“I regret not having picked it up or having looked at or analysing these answers or those documents in greater detail,” he said.
He was asked by counsel assisting Scott Robertson: “But a moment’s pause for thought by a lawyer of your experience must have drawn to your attention these are not responsive answers to the questions of the NSW Electoral Commission?
ICAC Commissioner Peter Hall asked him: “Surely it is within your role to ensure that on their face the answers were demonstrably responding to the question and were not evading intentionally or otherwise the point of the question of the NSW Electoral Commission?”
Mr Robertson answered: “It was my belief at the time … but I accept the proposition that the answer to question one is wrong.
“If you are saying to me should I have picked that up with hindsight I believe I should.”
The hearing continues.