Kellie Sloane needs clear air, but ICAC claims are starving her of oxygen

analysis Kellie Sloane needs clear air, but ICAC's Operation Rosny claims are starving her of oxygen Mon 3 Aug 2026 at 6:50am Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane was once a world away from the extraordinary behaviour being alleged in the Independent Commission Against Corruption. In 2021, when a now-fugitive property developer was allegedly funnelling money to right-wing Liberal powerbrokers and plotting to end the careers of his rivals, Ms Sloane was working alongside a giant, talking giraffe promoting healthy lifestyles for children. Pretty wholesome stuff. In 2022, she bid "Healthy Harold" farewell, quitting her job as CEO of Life Education Australia to run for the blue-ribbon Liberal seat of Vaucluse, which she won in 2023. Ms Sloane is quick to remind people that the allegations being heard as part of Operation Rosny predate her time in politics. Last week, she described the opening day's evidence as "pretty awful" and "intensely uncomfortable listening," but gave the impression her focus was nowhere near the inquiry. However, by the time Friday rolled around, two of her shadow ministers had been dragged into the saga. And this week, ICAC's gaze is likely to feel even closer, as the anti-corruption commission hears from one of her most senior parliamentary colleagues. Tudehope to give evidence Former shadow attorney-general Damien Tudehope is due in the witness box on Monday and his evidence is expected to last for one day. While he has not been accused of wrongdoing, he stepped aside from the frontbench last month in anticipation of his appearance as a witness. Mr Tudehope had a personal connection with members of the Reformers, the right-wing sub-faction of the Liberal party, which is at the centre of this inquiry. ICAC's been told Mr Tudehope hosted a barbecue for them in 2018 to support the recruitment of like-minded Liberals with socially conservative values. During that event, a former colleague of Mr Tudehope's, Michael O'Hara, was introduced to the group. The corruption commission was told Mr O'Hara later decided to support the Reformers financially, despite being a prohibited donor. On Monday, Mr Tudehope is likely to be asked whether he had any knowledge or suspicion of these alleged payments. Such questions are often fact-finding exercises and are not allegations, but Mr Tudehope's association with the Reformers could make for an uncomfortable day in the witness box. Ms Sloane describes Mr Tudehope as a "man of integrity" whom she would welcome back into her shadow cabinet when the time is right. The speed with which he returns to the frontbench will largely depend on his performance on Monday. Catching curveballs While Ms Sloane may have hoped Mr Tudehope's early resignation would help neutralise controversy during the first week of ICAC, she wasn't prepared for the evidence concerning shadow industry minister, Eleni Petinos. Ms Petinos is not accused of wrongdoing, but ICAC is investigating a curious phone call made by fugitive property developer Jean Nassif, who's accused of funding the Reformers and seeking influence in the NSW government. During the 2021 call, which was intercepted by investigators, he boasted that he could get rid of building commissioner David Chandler, because one of his "girls" was going to become the relevant minister. Two months later, Ms Petinos was appointed fair trading minister. And by mid 2022, Mr Chandler had left his position following a code of conduct investigation that had been requested by Ms Petinos's office, the inquiry was told. However, Counsel Assisting Peggy Dwyer was cautious about drawing a link between Nassif's boastful conversation and Mr Chandler's departure as building commissioner. Dr Dwyer raised the prospect that his bragging may have been "wishful thinking" that "serendipitously came to pass". Ms Sloane was keen to emphasise that prospect last week, reminding people that Ms Petinos was "not named as a subject of interest". She said the inquiry should be allowed to run its course and noted that Ms Petinos was on maternity leave. It means she won't be attending parliament when it resumes this week, after the winter break. The opposition leader was also forced to defend shadow planning minister Chris Rath, after Nine newspapers reported he may have helped at least one of the Reformers avoid a summons to appear in a 2023 parliamentary inquiry into allegations of branch stacking. He'd reportedly tipped off an individual about the location of a process server, someone who'd been hired to serve the summons. Ms Sloane said she'd spoken to Mr Rath and expressed her "disappointment." "Chris has acknowledged that he made an error of judgement, apologised for it at the time and accepts that he should not have disclosed confidential committee information," she said. However, she noted her shadow minister was not under investigation by ICAC, nor had he been asked to provide evidence. Even still, for the third time in a week she'd been forced to answer questions about her colleagues' conduct. Just seven months out from an election, the timing could hardly be worse. Labor keeps its glee in check Throughout August and September, ICAC will likely produce many damaging headlines about alleged corruption involving figures linked to the Liberal party. On one hand, it's a gift to the Labor government, which seems content to sit back and watch it all unfold every day. Even before the inquiry began, Ms Sloane and her team were facing an uphill battle to win government. The Resolve Political Monitor published in Nine newspapers last month put voter support for the Coalition at just 23 per cent. However, Labor was not the main beneficiary, with the same poll showing support for One Nation has surged to 25 per cent. The eight weeks of public hearings are unlikely to improve the Coalition's standing with voters. However, Premier Chris Minns has — for the most part — resisted the urge to make political hay out of his opponents' predicament. On Sunday, he said the allegations raised at ICAC risked casting all politicians in a bad light, at a time when voter frustration with the major parties was on the rise. "One Nation's vote has skyrocketed and they've got nothing to do with this ICAC investigation," he said. "And my concern is that people say, well, I've seen Labor at ICAC and I've seen the Liberal Party at ICAC, I'm going to vote for a third party this time." ICAC is supposed to give voters confidence that public institutions and politicians are, on the whole, acting in an honest and transparent manner. It would be a strange irony if, after all these inquiries, voters decided they could no longer trust them at all.