A secretive crew of right-wing Catholic activists, calling themselves the Reformers, staged a brazen takeover of a Liberal Party branch in Coffs Harbour — a traditionally National Party stronghold — sparking a scandal that erupted during an ICAC inquiry. The operation, led by co-founder Robert Assaf, who earned $135K/year from Catholic Schools NSW while allegedly doing Liberal factional work during work hours, revealed a web of corruption: cash payments, secret meetings, phone taps, and even attempts to bribe politicians. Intercepts exposed a property developer offering $100K to support a Perrottet brother, and another call urging removal of a building commissioner. Meanwhile, five-figure payments flowed to Jean-Claude Perrottet from a company tied to Jeremy Greenwood — whose clients included Catholic Schools NSW — yet Perrottet couldn’t explain what he did to earn them. The chaos deepened when a shadow attorney general admitted leaking a confidential report to a key witness. This isn’t just about party politics — it’s about power, money, and the shocking disconnect between state leadership and local realities.

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