Kaila Murnain accused of ‘fabrication’ over meeting with lawyer
Suspended NSW Labor boss again faced questions over calls with party lawyer, Sam Dastyari.
Hello and welcome to our coverage of the ICAC hearing into alleged fake contributions to the NSW Labor Party. Yesterday, Chinese property developer Huang Xiangmo declared he was “not the source” of the $100,000 cash donation that sparked the corruption inquiry. Suspended HQ boss Kaila Murnain has faced further questioning today.
Andrew Clennell 2.51pm: ‘Labor means everything to me’
Kaila Murnain has been asked by her counsel Ian Neil SC what the Labor party meant to her and she has said everything in her life apart from her family. She has finished giving evidence.
Andrew Clennell 2.33pm: ‘I’ve tarnished ordinary members’
Ms Murnain weeps as she admits she has made ordinary Labor members look bad. Mr Moses apologises for questions but says he is duty bound to ask them.
Andrew Clennell 2.20pm: More tears from Murnain
Kaila Murnain has broken down on the stand again after Counsel for the Labor party, Arthur Moses, asked her to confirm part of her duties was to tell other party officers of matters of concern and to act with “integrity and honesty”.
Andrew Clennell 1.05pm: ‘Your evidence has been a pack of lies’
Mr McInerney later said: “Ms Murnain, your evidence to this commission has been a pack of lies, hasn’t it?”
“No,” Ms Murnain said.
Andrew Clennell 12.45pm: Murnain accused of lying
Ms Murnain has now been accused of a “complete fabrication” in terms of her meeting with Mr Robertson.
Mr McInerney has shown Ms Murnain a document showing she was billed for the Friday night meeting she had with Mr Robertson. This is an attempt to allege she lied about the nature of the meeting.
Mr McInerney: “You came unstuck when your version of events had .. Mr Robertson said he wouldn’t be billing you for the meeting?”
Ms Murnain: “No I did not.”
Mr McInerney: “He did bill you didn’t he?”
Ms Murnain: “You would have to ask Mr Robertson.”
Mr McInerney: “Your evidence he wouldn’t be billing you is a complete fabrication.”
Ms Murnain: “No.”
Andrew Clennell 12.10pm: Murnain shown legal advice
Ms Murnain is being shown legal advice provided by Mr Robertson on Saturday September 17, 2016 related to concerns as to whether Mr Lalich received an illegal donation when a trip to China was funded.
Mr McInerney is continuing to press the case their meeting was only about the Lalich matter.
Andrew Clennell 11.30am: Lawyer meeting ‘about China trip’
Mr McInerney suggested to Ms Murnain her meeting with Mr Robertson was related to concerns about a company paying for a trip to China for Cabramatta MP Nick Lalich, not on the Wong donations matter.
“No, I don’t show up to Mr Robertson’s office (for that sort of
matter),” Ms Murnain said.
Andrew Clennell 11.25am: Murnain ‘booked call before Dasher chat’
Mr McInerney now suggesting that based on phone records, Ms Murnain had booked the meeting with Mr Robertson prior to the conversation with Mr Dastyari.
“That’s just not my recollection, I’m sorry,” Ms Murnain said.
Andrew Clennell 11.10am: Murnain’s admission over lawyer
The lawyer for Labor party lawyer Ian Robertson, Tony McInerney, and Kaila Murnain are now debating whether or not Ms Murnain met Sam Dastyari after she met Mr Robertson on the now infamous night if September 16,2016 when former MP Ernest Wong told her about the illegal donations.
Ms Murnain concedes it is “absolutely possible” that Mr Dastyari told her on the phone to see Ian Robertson and she met Mr Dastyari later.
“I was quite upset and needed to talk to a lawyer,” Ms Murnain said.
Andrew Clennell 10.25am: Xiangmo told: be cross-examined
As ICAC opened this morning, Chief Commissioner Peter Hall addressed the statement overnight by Huang Xiangmo in which the Chinese developer denied handing over $100,000 in cash to former Labor Party boss Jamie Clements.
Mr Hall said if Mr Xiangmo wanted his statement put in evidence he needed to submit himself for cross examination.
Mr Xiangmo’s statement was revealed in The Australian today.
Suspended general secretary Kaila Murnain will resume evidence this morning.
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