Steadfast COO Cameron McCullagh “has the full support of the company’s board” despite a critical article in a Sydney newspaper linking him to a $100,000 political donation.

CEO Robert Kelly says Mr McCullagh resigned from the Steadfast board in March, three months after being appointed to it, “of his own volition”.

He says the decision to step aside came after MP Richard Torbay resigned from the NSW Parliament after allegations against him were referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Mr Torbay received a $100,000 donation from Mr McCullagh’s wife’s private company.

In a front-page report yesterday the Sydney Morning Herald says that in 2010 then-planning minister Tony Kelly rescinded an interim heritage order on a $3.8 million home Mr McCullagh and his wife had bought, allowing them to demolish the building.

The newspaper says Mr McCullagh wrote to Mr Torbay in June 2010 asking him to arrange a meeting with Mr Kelly, who rescinded the interim heritage order two months later. 

Australian Electoral Commission records show that in December 2010 Mr McCullagh’s wife’s private company donated $100,000 to Mr Torbay. 

Robert Kelly told insuranceNEWS.com.au today that Mr McCullagh will not rejoin the Steadfast board “until the matter is cleared up and his position is clarified”.

“There is nothing to suggest he has done anything wrong,” he said. “He has my support and the support of the Steadfast board.”

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