Dirt unit staffer’s secret meeting with Gladys Berejiklian’s chief of staff

The staffer who quit three weeks ago over a leak has met with the NSW Premier’s chief of staff.

Sarah Cruickshank, chief of staff for NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, meeting with dirt unit staffer Tom Green this morning. Picture: Andrew Clennell

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s chief of staff has met the “dirt unit” staffer who resigned three weeks ago over a leak of private information from Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello’s office for half an hour in a city coffee shop this morning.

Tom Green, who was seconded from Mr Dominello’s office to the Liberal party “dirt unit” during the state election campaign was dressed in a suit and tie as he met Ms Berejiklian’s chief of staff, Sarah Cruickshank, at the Sofitel Bar this morning.

The Australian has revealed that Mr Green briefed Ms Berejiklian’s chief of staff, Sarah Cruickshank and others in the Premier’s office prior to the leak by the Liberal Party dirt unit to a Sydney Morning Herald journalist of former Labor leader Michael Daley’s private driving information and that of more than 100 motorists.

Mr Daley referred the leak of the material to police who found not enough evidence to lay a charge. The Opposition has now referred the leak to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Confronted after the meeting this morning, Ms Cruickshank said: “I was explaining to him why there wasn’t going to be a role in the government for him.”

The Australian has revealed that the records of the motorists, who called a special hotline for MPs, which acts to “stop the clock” on speeding offences so they can be contested, was referred to the Privacy Commissioner after it was sent to the minister’s office last November, shortly after Mr Daley became leader.

At the time, the head of Revenue NSW, Stephen Brady, demanded that the file be deleted but it was not.