Maitland MP Robyn Parker says she was confident she had nothing to hide when she fronted the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s inquiry into illegal political donations in the Hunter.
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No accusations had been levelled at Ms Parker before she entered the witness box on Friday.
But questions had been raised about whether part of a $120,000 donation, under investigation, had made its way to the Maitland 2011 campaign.
Ms Parker told the inquiry she had nothing to do with the funding.
“It was good to be able to clear up how we operated our campaign,” she told the Mercury yesterday.
“It can be quite daunting [appearing in the ICAC witness box] but if you’ve got nothing to hide then there is nothing to worry about.
“I had been a candidate for a long time before the others and was a member of the Upper House. We were well and truly on our way by the time these things happened.”
Ms Parker said she agreed with the Liberal Party’s decision not to contest by-elections at Newcastle or Charlestown, after former MPs Tim Owen and Andrew Cornwell resigned amid corruption findings.
Ms Parker said she had received positive feedback from Maitland residents who were relieved she had not been involved in corrupt financial dealings during the election campaign.
“It’s good to be able to hold my head high,” she said.
“I spoke to the Premier on Friday night about what to do and he has been devastated.”
The inquiry is investigating donations from property developers to the Liberal Party before the 2011 election.
Developers have been banned from donating to NSW parties since 2009.
The ICAC heard on Friday that Ms Parker had ideological differences with former Police Minister Mike Gallacher and former Energy Minister Chris Hartcher, alleged to have orchestrated the $120,000 funding.
The inquiry also heard that developer Bill Saddington had donated to the Maitland campaign when he attended a fund-raising auction and placed a $600 bid on an item.
But when Ms Parker’s staff realised Mr Saddington was a banned donor, they immediately returned the money and refunded the cost of his ticket to the event.
Newcastle mayor and property developer Jeff McCloy mentioned purchasing CDs from Ms Parker’s husband before the election, during his appearance at the inquiry last Wednesday.
Ms Parker told the ICAC her son Dylan made the recordings while he was seriously ill with a brain tumour and many people bought the CDs.
She said they had nothing to do with her campaign.
