新南威尔士州自由党资深议员达米恩·图德霍普在独立反腐委员会听证会上作证，评价党内关键人物让-克劳德·佩罗特在鼓励党员加入和续约方面具有非凡能力[1]。图德霍普表示，党员招募对议员的政治生涯至关重要[1]。
该听证会调查自由党的非法捐款案[1]。商人弗里茨·马雷向调查人员透露，他曾被要求捐赠5万澳元用于建立呼叫中心[1]。据马雷说法，埃利斯和佩罗特的目标是通过招募年轻人加入自由党来积累足够的票数，以推翻联邦议员亚历克斯·霍克[1]。马雷表示自己最终未支付任何款项，原因是他不希望卷入党派内斗[1]。
图德霍普还谈及自己与自由党的关系，称之为"爱恨交织"，并指出自己自1970年代加入该党以来一直保持党员身份[1]。
Senior New South Wales Liberal MP Damien Tudehope testified before the state's independent anti-corruption watchdog that party recruitment played a crucial role in political careers [1]. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry is investigating alleged illegal donations to the Liberal Party, with testimony revealing attempts to expand membership numbers through a targeted campaign [1].
Businessman Frits Mare disclosed that he was asked to donate $50,000 to establish a call center aimed at recruiting new party members [1]. According to Mare's account, the recruitment drive—involving Ellis and Perrottet—was designed to attract young members to the Liberal Party in sufficient numbers to remove federal MP Alex Hawke [1]. Tudehope characterized Perrottet as having "a talent" for encouraging party members to join and renew their memberships [1]. Mare stated he made no payment because he did not wish to become involved in factional disputes [1]. Tudehope, who has been affiliated with the Liberal Party since the 1970s, described his relationship with the organization as "a love-hate relationship" [1].