These young men, Dwyer alleges, ran a major branch stacking operation that was designed to take over the Liberal party and promote their conservative agenda, while at the same time using their influence to deliver the outcomes their benefactor sought.

It was not just idle boasting by Nassif. Soon after that taped call, he got what he wanted: the Baulkham Hills MP, David Elliott, lost his preselection. Kevin Anderson, the minister responsible for the building commissioner, was replaced and Chandler, under enormous pressure, resigned.