Envelopes of cash handed over in the back of a Bentley, sham invoices and a modest artwork that became an expensive masterpiece: Operation Spicer revealed the ingenious ways in which illicit political donations could be disguised.
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For nine weeks in 2014, the Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into Liberal Party fundraising heard explosive allegations that led to 10 state Liberal MPs joining the crossbench or quitting politics.
The ICAC is now poised to deliver its long-anticipated findings on Tuesday, after being stymied by a string of legal battles about its powers and the validity of NSW political donations laws.
Corruption findings unlikely
While the inquiry sent shockwaves through the parliamentary Liberal Party, corruption findings are unlikely to be made against any of the 10 state MPs caught in the ICAC's net.
A review of the ICAC Act last year, triggered by a High Court ruling on the commission's powers, made it clear that many breaches of donations laws did not amount to "corrupt conduct".
The ICAC noted in the wake of the review that it could not make a corrupt conduct finding against targets of Operation Spicer on the basis of a breach of donations laws alone.
However, the ICAC could still conclude that conduct was illegal and recommend criminal charges be considered – a prospect that will strike fear into the hearts of the commission's targets.
Who was investigated
Dozens of Liberal MPs and business figures from the Central Coast and Hunter Valley were embroiled in the inquiry, including former energy minister Chris Hartcher and former police minister Mike Gallacher, along with embattled coal mogul Nathan Tinkler.
Developer and former Newcastle mayor Jeff McCloy famously admitted to giving envelopes stuffed with $10,000 in cash each to former MPs Tim Owen and Andrew Cornwell in the back of his Bentley.
Mr Cornwell also admitted local property developer Hilton Grugeon gave his wife $10,120 for a Rex Newell painting that was "clearly not" worth $10,000 and he used it to pay his tax.
The ICAC heard an alleged "sham company" called Eightbyfive was set up by a former adviser to Mr Hartcher, Tim Koelma, to channel illegal donations from developers and others by issuing fake invoices for work. Mr Hartcher denied allegations he was the "mastermind" of the scheme.
Only Mr Gallacher remains in NSW Parliament, and he has denied allegations he hatched a "corrupt scheme" with Mr Tinkler's property development company Buildev to channel illegal donations to the Liberal Party.
Federal implications
The shockwaves from Operation Spicer were felt nationally, as the inquiry probed allegations the NSW Liberal Party used a Canberra-based entity called the Free Enterprise Foundation to "wash" illegal donations from property developers and channel them back to the state branch of the party.
Property developers have been banned from donating to NSW election campaigns since 2010 but can donate to federal campaigns.
Federal Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos, then chairman of the party's finance committee, gave evidence he was unaware developers were donating to the campaign.
"What about this for a pub test: the chairman of the finance committee of the Liberal Party didn't know the identity of the single largest donor to the Liberal Party in an election campaign. What do you think about that?" counsel assisting the inquiry, Geoffrey Watson, SC, said at the time.
Senator Sinodinos, who is not expected to face adverse findings, said it was the responsibility of the party agent, finance director Simon McInnes.
The sideshow
Operation Spicer also crossed party lines and examined allegations that former Labor ministers Joe Tripodi and Eric Roozendaal "improperly took steps to benefit Buildev", a company part-owned by Mr Tinkler.
Mr Tinkler has donated to both sides of politics and the inquiryexamined allegations Buildev donated tens of thousands of dollars to the Liberal Party in breach of the statewide ban on donations from property developers.
The ICAC also heard allegations Buildev, working with then Labor ports minister Joe Tripodi, was behind an attempt to smear then-Newcastle Labor MP Jodi McKay to cruel her re-election chances in 2011. Ms McKay was opposed to Buildev's plans for a coal loader in Mayfield.
