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Lobbyist and former political staffer Jeremy Greenwood has told a corruption inquiry he has an interest in conservative issues, in particular abortion, but was not a member of the Reformers and later felt the right-wing Catholic group turned “toxic”.

Greenwood appeared before the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Monday, as it continues its probe into illegal political donations and links between fugitive developer Jean Nassif and Liberal operatives.

He told the commission he was interested in conservative issues but less so in factional stoushes involving the Liberals and at no point considered himself a member of the Reformers despite being supportive of their work.

Greenwood was working for Nationals senator Matt Canavan when his friends Christian Ellis and Robert Assaf starting ramping up their recruitment efforts for the Reformers, he told the commission.

While he was interested in the conservative social issues the Reformers were supporting Greenwood said in 2018 he was “all about the Nationals” rather than Liberal Party matters.

“Most of the engagement I have with these guys would have been at a pub, or I’ve been dragged into a group chat,” Greenwood said.

Greenwood said while his boss Canavan spoke at a Reformers event, he mostly sat outside.

He would have been interested in conservative policy talks organised by the Reformers, including one featuring former broadcaster Alan Jones, but was not involved in recruitment activities.

Greenwood stressed to the commission he was never a member of the group and eventually began urging his friends to stop their involvement with the factional group.

He told the commission he felt the Reformers “became so toxic” that he wanted his friends to stop.

“I was supportive of their cause up until a point when it was negatively impacting me,” Greenwood said.

He said the Reformers had started to cause him “a lot of grief professionally”.

At the start of his evidence, Greenwood was asked about friendships he had with other key figures linked to the Reformers, including the Perrottet brothers Dominic, Charles and Jean-Claude.

Factional powerbroker Charles and Jean-Claude are persons of interest in this inquiry, but the former premier Dominic is not involved nor is he accused of any wrongdoing. Greenwood also said Ellis was one of his good friends and Ellis had been best man at his wedding.

The commission heard Greenwood visited Ellis in June in Britain, where Ellis had relocated in January and had “caught up” with him on four occasions.

Counsel assisting Dr Peggy Dwyer, SC, told the commission in her opening statement Ellis “has declined to give oral evidence to this public inquiry, during which he would be subject to cross-examination”.

“He cites family responsibilities and the different time zone. The commission has proposed methods to accommodate his evidence by video link at acceptable times, and we await a further response from his legal representatives,” she said in her opening statement.

Greenwood told the commission on Monday Ellis told him he wants to give evidence, but has not told him of any plans to return to Australia.

The inquiry continues.