ICAC: Group Colleges Australia and links with Nicolaou

Responding to news that Liberal NSW fundraiser Paul Nicolaou is again caught up in ICAC scandals, Greens democracy spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

"It's irresponsible for Group Colleges Australia to retain prominent Liberal fundraiser Paul Nicolaou on their board given his ongoing role in ICAC investigations.

"Surely Group Colleges Australia should suspend Mr Nicolaou's board membership while the current ICAC investigation into Liberal fundraising continues.

"Research from my office reveals Group Colleges Australia has donated over $74 ,000 to the Liberal Party since 2009.

"Group Colleges Australia is one of the many private for profit companies set to receive large grants from the millions of dollars of public funds that would be available if the Abbott government's higher education changes are adopted.

"In May this year I wrote to ICAC requesting they investigate Mr Nicolaou's involvement with GCA as a Non-Executive Director, because of donations linking senior managers of GCA to the Liberal Party.

"ICAC have referred my concerns to the NSW Election Funding Authority and I will be taking this up with them.