Talk of sleaze in the Orange Grove between developer Nabil Gazal and NSW Liberal Anthony Roberts – $30,000 worth of sleaze – continues, despite last week’s ICAC findings.

Roberts first met Gazal when he was a tenant in one of Gazal’s buildings in Gladesville. Gazal is a generous person always looking for political connections and Roberts is always just a bit shorter of campaign funds than he would like – and so a wonderful friendship developed.

At his preselection, Roberts talked very confidently about a significant campaign pledge – but it’s still disputed where it appeared in his electoral returns. There is the matter of the supposed three faxes from Gladesville businesses, all dated within a day of each other and each promising $10,000 that have been the subject of much speculation.

NSW Liberal sources say the documents relating to this were handed over to Liberal Party heavies, who were most concerned – but nothing happened. The matter is still the cause of much disquiet around the branches on the lower North Shore.

Then again, Roberts attracts stories. Not only was he the chief Parrot wrangler when he worked in the Prime Minister’s office, there’s also a perpetual story that he helped a certain Senator with contentious commonwealth car logs. Perhaps it’s all idle talk. “You might say that. I couldn’t possibly comment,” as the quote goes.

Correction: We meant to refer to Flagship Communications, not Flagstaff, as the lobbying company Roberts was involved with in Friday’s Crikey.