Did Catholic education money find its way into a Liberal faction?

Did Catholic education money find its way into a Liberal faction?

Author: ABC Australia August 12, 2026 Duration: 29:06
The ABC’s head of religion, Noel Debien, has been watching the proceedings at ICAC and is here with an update. In New South Wales, the Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating claims that the head office of Catholic schools – but not the schools themselves -- employed some staff to work primarily on factional activities for the Liberal Party. There’ve also been allegations that the organisation paid a consultant who then funnelled his money to a faction known as the Reformers.  How have socially conservative Catholics found a home for themselves in the Liberal Party, especially considering its early history as a bastion of Australia’s protestant establishment? It’s due in large part to the end of long romance between the Catholic Church and the Labor Party.  GUESTS: Noel Debien is a religion expert and broadcaster, and heads the Religion and Ethics unit at ABC Radio National Dr Jeff Kildea is the author of the new book Iron Law No More: The Rise and Demise of the Catholic-Labor Alliance in Australia. Anne Benjamin is a respected educator, who was Director of Schools for the Parramatta diocese.  This program is recorded on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation

Produced by the ABC, The Religion and Ethics Report-Separate stories podcast digs into the complex and often unseen forces shaping our world. Each episode is a deep, standalone exploration of how belief, morality, and spiritual practice intersect with the headlines and the human stories behind them. We move beyond simple soundbites to present nuanced conversations and reported features that consider the ethical dimensions of power, the cultural impact of faith, and the personal search for meaning. You’ll hear from a diverse range of voices-theologians and philosophers, community leaders and activists, artists and everyday people-all contributing to a vital examination of contemporary life. This podcast doesn’t offer easy answers but instead provides the context and depth needed to understand the pivotal role of religion and ethics in Australian society and across the globe. It’s for anyone curious about the deeper currents driving conflict, compassion, and change in our communities. Tune in for thoughtful, independent journalism that treats these profound subjects with the seriousness and specificity they deserve.
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