Icac inquiry raises questions over whether taxpayer funds were used in alleged illegal political donations

<p>Catholic Schools NSW’s alleged donations to Liberal party show the need to ensure public money is spent for approved purposes, expert says</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/jul/15/australia-news-live-ceo-pay-anthony-albanese-palestine-gaza-ai-artificial-intelligence-datacentres-copyright-royal-commission-antisemitism-labor-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>An education funding expert says alleged donations by Catholic Schools NSW to the Liberal party, under investigation by the state corruption watchdog, show governments need to check taxpayer funding was “being spent according to its purposes” and not funnelled into political donations.</p><p>The Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) is investigating allegations that political donations were made by Catholic Schools NSW “in amounts that were not declared and exceeded applicable donation caps”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/15/icac-catholic-schools-nsw-liberal-party">Continue reading...</a>