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THE artist at the centre of a corruption inquiry engulfing the Hunter says the painting that helped end the career of Charlestown MP Andrew Cornwell was one of many he gave to Brien Cornwell for Liberal Party fund-raisers in a relationship spanning decades.
Rex Newell said the painting at the centre of the storm was worth ‘‘no more than $3000’’ when he gave it to Mr Cornwell snr before the 2011 state election on the understanding it was to ‘‘raise money for the Liberal Party’’.
Mr Newell said Mr Cornwell’s father, one-time developer, Brien, had bought or received ‘‘at least a dozen’’ pictures from him since the 1970s.
‘‘I get hit up about a dozen times a year from charities or friends or would-be friends,’’ he said.
The Cornwells’ recollection of the arrangement has stated the painting was originally a gift from Mr Cornwell snr to his son’s wife.
They say it was then given to Maitland developer Hilton Grugeon, who later paid more than $10,000 in what the counsel assisting ICAC, Geoffrey Watson, SC, described as a ‘‘bribe’’.
But Mr Newell said the Cornwell story ‘‘didn’t add up’’ with what he’d been told. He said he remembered dropping it off to Mr Cornwell snr, along with one other painting, at the Newcastle Yacht Club.
‘‘When I read in the paper that it had been sold for $10,000, I was certainly surprised,’’ he said.
But he also said it was common for people to over pay at fund-raisers ‘‘and then probably regret it later’’.
Mr Cornwell jnr officially resigned from the Liberal Party yesterday and said he would not recontest his seat at next year’s state election after it emerged on Thursday that Mr Grugeon, described by another witness at the hearing as the ‘‘bloke with the deepest pockets’’ at a fund-raiser, had paid more than $10,000 for the painting.
Mr Grugeon, said there was plenty he wanted to say about it, and would do so when it was his turn to give evidence before the ICAC.
Mr Cornwell described the picture as ‘‘a farmhouse type scene, not the sort of thing we would have hung at home’’.
But Mr Grugeon said it pictured ‘‘a boatshed and boat at Tea Gardens’’ – a claim that matches Mr Newell’s account.
‘‘It obviously differs from Mr Cornwell’s recollection and while I would like to comment further, I am appearing before the ICAC in these matters and it would be inappropriate to do so,’’ Mr Grugeon said.
Mr Newell, 75, has lived in an apartment on the main street of Tea Gardens for about 10 years where he continues to paint for commission.
He has published a number of art books, including Outback Pubs of Australia, and says his most expensive work sold for about $45,000.
He says he’s ‘‘not impressed’’ at being dragged into the affair.
‘‘It’s got bloody nothing to do with me,’’ he said.
ICAC heard Mr Grugeon took possession of the picture for ‘‘Christmas 2010’’.
The chairman of the Maitland Hospital Foundation, Greg Farrow, said Mr Grugeon then gave it to his group in October 2011.
Mr Farrow, the managing partner of Maitland accounting firm Pitcher Partners, said Mr Grugeon gave it to the foundation to auction for charity.
‘‘It went into a fund-raising silent auction and didn’t sell and then it went into storage at my office and I forgot about,’’ Mr Farrow said.
He said it was probably fortunate that he had forgotten about it because the public interest the picture had generated now meant it would attract a higher price when it went to auction.
Mr Farrow said the foundation was formed about four years ago and raised at least $500,000 for Maitland Hospital in that time.
‘‘Hilton has been a generous supporter of this charity and many others over the years.
‘‘I don’t think the community really recognises the amount of support that comes from people in business and Hilton is a prime example of that.’’
