David Elliott tells inquiry of branch stacking and death threats as Catholic Schools NSW sack boss after appearance

Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates

Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

A former New South Wales Liberal minister has told an inquiry he came to believe “a cult had taken over the party” after branch stacking by the religious right faction, while the chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW has been sacked following his appearance before the corruption watchdog.

Former Liberal minister and MP for the now-abolished seat of Baulkham Hills, David Elliott, told the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption that after he opposed developments by fugitive property developer Jean Nassif, he was followed by private investigators and received death threats.