ICAC inquiry into Reformers faction hears of 'filthy schools money' text and allegations against Charles Perrottet
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has heard a lobbyist describe a text message about 'filthy schools money' as a 'stupid joke', as the inquiry examines allegations of prohibited donations funnelled through third parties to support the right-wing Liberal faction, the NSW Reformers.
Jeremy Greenwood, a former Liberal Party operative, told ICAC that a text exchange with Jean-Claude Perrottet, the brother of former premier Dominic Perrottet, was 'a joke with a friend'. The text, shown at the inquiry's first hearing last month, read: 'Hey, so you know I'm good to you and help you and give you your filthy schools money and put up with you f*ing whinging.' Perrottet replied: 'Don't put that in writing,' to which Greenwood responded: 'It deletes.'
Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC alleged the money referred to payments from Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) intended to fund Liberal Party recruitment work. The inquiry has heard that members of the Reformers used companies, sham invoices, and consulting agreements to disguise political donations, including payments allegedly channelled through CSNSW. It is also examining allegations involving Greenwood's former company, Beckington, which is alleged to have been used to conceal political donations as payments for lobbying work. Greenwood denied the text was anything more than a joke, but Dwyer had previously said the exchange would be used to argue that key Reformers players knew about 'sham arrangements'.
In separate evidence, Greenwood described the Reformers as having become 'toxic', telling the inquiry he 'actually told them all to get out of the Reformers at some point'. He downplayed his involvement, saying he was 'all about the Nationals' and more interested in policy than factional politics. Greenwood said he attended events with Alan Jones and that his friend and Reformers co-founder Christian Ellis wanted to give evidence, despite Ellis having gone to 'significant lengths to avoid process servers'. Greenwood said he visited Ellis in the UK. The inquiry is also examining allegations that money from Nassif's company, Toplace, was channelled through companies linked to Greenwood before being distributed to some Reformers members.
Charles Perrottet accused of sharing 'dirt' and secret recordings
The inquiry has also heard allegations that Dominic Perrottet's brother, Charles Perrottet, shared 'dirt' – including a secret pocket phone recording of a minister – to try to help property developer Jean Nassif achieve political outcomes.
Chris Spence, a former NSW Liberal MP and staffer, told ICAC that Charles Perrottet may have been acting in Nassif's interests when he shared audio recordings in 2021, although Spence denied having knowledge of any plans Perrottet may have had. Spence described Charles Perrottet as 'very well respected, and intelligent' and 'quite good at strategy', but rejected the suggestion that he was a 'conduit' to his brother, Dominic.
The inquiry heard that the first audio file, shared in May 2021, allegedly involved Nassif speaking about an arrangement with David Chandler, the former building commissioner, to give him an occupation certificate in exchange for a large sum of money. Charles Perrottet shared the file along with copies of text messages requesting payment. The second recording, shared in October 2021, purportedly included minister David Elliott criticising Dominic Perrottet before he became premier. Spence admitted showing a video of Chandler to Cassandra Lawry, provided by Charles Perrottet, but denied telling Dylan Whitelaw that he planned to give the video to Eleni Petinos. Whitelaw heard Spence say this, which Spence denied. Spence described Whitelaw as 'one of the most untrustworthy, lying individuals I've met'.
Chandler is not a person of interest in the inquiry and is not accused of wrongdoing. Charles Perrottet is expected to give evidence on Friday; Nassif is not expected to appear.
Petinos testifies she was pressured to sack Chandler and then sacked herself
Former NSW fair trading minister Eleni Petinos gave evidence that she may have been used by fellow Liberals to try to get rid of Chandler. She told ICAC that her sacking in July 2022 – allegedly for bullying staff – was unfair and potentially motivated by her reluctance to sack the building commissioner.
Petinos recounted numerous attempts in 2022 to persuade her that Chandler was 'dodgy' and should be sacked. She said that on Friday 27 July 2022, Dominic Perrottet, who was overseas, had been supportive after bullying allegations against her were published, but by Sunday night he had decided to sack her. In the interim, Chandler had resigned, lodging a resignation letter that alleged undue influence on the Liberal government by developers and a lack of support from Petinos and her staff. He was later reinstated.
Petinos said she felt 'something very strange at play' over the speed of her dismissal. The inquiry heard that Charles Perrottet suggested to her that Chandler was 'dodgy', and that Chris Spence contacted her and her chief of staff about Chandler. John Barilaro, the former deputy premier, played Petinos an audio recording of Chandler making racist slurs. Cassandra Lawry, who was shown the video of Chandler, wrote a letter to ICAC reporting it but did not name Spence. Lawry said she felt she was being set up and that Spence was 'abnormally insistent'.
The inquiry, known as Operation Rosny, is investigating alleged payments of $2 million from Nassif to Charles Perrottet, Christian Ellis, and Jeremy Greenwood.