Former Charlestown Liberal MP Andrew Cornwell says he is delighted to have been “exonerated” by the Independent Commission Against Corruption over perjury allegations.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The ICAC announced this week that it had accepted the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions that there was insufficient evidence to charge Mr Cornwell with giving false or misleading evidence to the 2014 Operation Spicer inquiry into illegal developer donations during the 2011 state election campaign.
The inquiry recommended in 2016 that the DPP examine whether charges should be laid against Mr Cornwell over his evidence that he gave a painting to Hunter developer Hilton Grugeon as a Christmas present in 2010 and Mr Grugeon subsequently contacted him and offered to buy the painting from Mr Cornwell’s wife, Samantha Brookes, for $10,120.
The DPP advised the ICAC last year that it would not pursue perjury charges against Ms Brookes.
Mr Cornwell said on Friday that he had assisted the inquiry “fully” and provided a voluntary statement.
“Unfortunately, ICAC’s view of my assistance suddenly changed. I have my own ideas on why that was. I was then vigorously attacked and accused of perjury,” he said.
Mr Cornwell, who also gave evidence to the inquiry that he had received $10,000 in cash from developer Jeff McCloy, said on Friday that he could now put the matter behind him with a “clear conscience”.
“The perjury allegation against me was always baseless. I am pleased to have had my reputation restored.
“But I am also disappointed to have had to live under a cloud of suspicion and distrust for so long. It has been a gruelling four years for me and my family.
“The stigma has impacted our lives in so many different ways, from banks closing our children’s bank accounts to being unable to get insurance. The examples are endless.”
The Cardiff vet said the Hunter community had been the “biggest losers during this nadir in ICAC’s history”.
The ICAC also announced this week the DPP would not prosecute developer Timothy Gunasinghe over allegations he misled the inquiry about his payment of a cheque to the Freedom Enterprise Foundation, a front for Liberal party fundraising.
The ICAC is waiting to hear if the DPP will press charges against Newcastle businessman William Saddington, Liberal staffer Tomothy Koelma, former Liberal minister Chris Hartcher and former Labor minister Joe Tripodi, who allegedly provided a confidential Treasury report to Nathan Tinkler’s Buildev company.