Who had their ICAC legal bills covered?

With 20 witnesses, thousands of pages of evidence and 38 sitting days over 10 weeks, Operation Rosny was a marathon hearing, even by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption’s standards. Amid all the theatre and scandal, it was also a lawyer’s picnic.Among a steady stream of legal identities filing into the ICAC’s inquiry into allegations of corrupt political donations was high-profile solicitor Bryan Wrench, who was part of lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood’s team when he wasn’t across town defending Alan Jones. Ex-premier Gladys Berejiklian’s barrister partner Arthur Moses appeared for The Hills Shire Council, while Colonel Bruce Levet represented his ex-army colleague and former Liberal police minister David Elliott.Damien Tudehope and his legal staff arrive at the ICAC hearing in August.Steven SiewertThis kind of representation doesn’t come cheap and one might feel sympathy for some – though perhaps not all – of those witnesses now opening their legal bills. However, it turns out not everyone will have to foot their own costs.Under government rules, ministers and public officials can apply for ex-gratia assistance when they’re required to front up to the ICAC. A freedom of information request by CBD reveals five applications for legal assistance relating to Operation Rosny were approved by NSW’s Department of Communities and Justice.So who were the mystery recipients? Former NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, who faced the wrath of disgraced Toplace developer Jean Nassif, confirmed he was a successful applicant.“I got some assistance and, frankly, I believe I was entitled to it, as I was just doing my job,” he said. Chandler is not accused of any wrongdoing.David Chandler (left) applied for and got some help to pay his legal costs.Sitthixay DitthavongEx-Liberal finance minister Damien Tudehope, who admitted to leaking a confidential parliamentary inquiry report into links between Liberal Party figures and Nassif, said he applied for assistance but got no reply. “I did anticipate a response,” he said, unimpressed. Tudehope quit the frontbench after he was called to appear to avoid “unnecessary distraction” for his party.Elliott, who was also not accused of wrongdoing in the inquiry, refused to say whether he received assistance because he believed administrative matters at ICAC were confidential. Ex-fair trading minister Eleni Petinos, who would also be eligible, did not respond by deadline.The identities of the remaining recipients remain a mystery. One intriguing possibility: unnamed politicians who gave evidence in private closed hearings.Mystery diplomat revealedWith his frontbench reinstatement in Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane’s reshuffle yesterday, perhaps Damien Tudehope will have more luck convincing the government to pay his ICAC legal bills.It’s been a busy week for the newly appointed shadow minister for energy and climate change, who is credited as the mystery man who brokered peace talks between Racing NSW and NSW MP Mark Latham. As revealed by CBD last week, the truce, involving Racing NSW’s recently departed chief Peter V’landys and his replacement, Graeme Hinton, saw a long-running probe into allegedly abusive conduct towards an official by Latham dropped.A jubilant Latham popped up in the director’s room at Randwick on Saturday. “I’m back baby!” he posted on Instagram. “Nothing quarrelsome today. The anniversary of being chucked out. A very Sydney story in where I’ve landed today.”Tudehope was modest over his role in the affair, insisting he did not hold himself out as a peace negotiator. “I talk to all these people from time to time, but whether I broker peace negotiations or not is probably just some way of construing it.”Growing painsWhen he was in opposition, NSW premier Chris Minns campaigned against excessive government spending and staffing costs, promising a more prudent approach.Shortly after he took the keys to Martin Place, he was delivering on his own doorstep, reducing the ministerial staff headcount and abolishing their highest pay grade. Known as MS7, this salary band allowed some chiefs of staff to receive salaries of up to $354,201.But what a difference a term makes. Latest data reveals the workforce has swelled to 240 people, costing between $35 million and $47 million a year. In comparison, the Perrottet government had 229 people at a cost of between $30 million and $39 million at the end of its term.And while there’s still no MS7, the MS6 band has been bumped up to a maximum of $345,000.“The NSW government ministerial staffing budget is increased annually consistent with standard salary increases that are received by all workers across the NSW public sector,” a spokesman said.Heavenly appointmentPR guru David Faktor, who became the public face of St Vincent’s Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, has ensured he has a foot in two camps when he reaches the Pearly Gates. After serving more than 20 years as spokesman for the hospital run by the Catholic Sisters of Charity, he has been engaged by Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal to advise on media and communications.Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.Clair Weaver is a senior writer at The Sydney Morning Herald.From our partners