The political partnership once credited by Dominic Perrottet with helping propel him to the premiership appears to be under severe strain as his brother Charles faces sustained questioning at a corruption inquiry in New South Wales.
Charles Perrottet has admitted making repeated false statements to fugitive property developer Jean Nassif, telling the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) that he invented promises about political influence to keep Nassif engaged and encourage him to settle unpaid bills.
Those alleged promises included removing former building commissioner David Chandler, undermining former police minister David Elliott and dealing with troublesome local councils. Charles insists they were fabrications rather than genuine political commitments.
The inquiry is examining whether prohibited political donations linked to Nassif and his collapsed development company, Toplace, were solicited or accepted by Charles Perrottet, lobbyists Christian Ellis and Jeremy Greenwood, and others. ICAC is also investigating whether money was provided in return for pursuing outcomes sought by Nassif.
Charles has said his claims were intended to persuade Nassif to pay money owed to Beckington, the lobbying firm associated with Ellis and Greenwood. He told the inquiry: “That’s what friends do.”
His evidence has been extended by two days, leaving him to face further scrutiny after counsel assisting the commission, Peggy Dwyer SC, challenged inconsistencies in his accounts.
“The great truism about telling a lie, Mr Perrottet, is you have to be really good at remembering it,” Dwyer told him.
Charles rejected the suggestion that he had deliberately changed his story, saying the different explanations could both be true. At another point, he offered a blunt assessment of political life: “In politics, sometimes you say things to people that aren’t 100 per cent the truth.”
Dominic Perrottet’s former political ally
Dominic Perrottet is not accused of wrongdoing and has not been called to give evidence. He referred allegations concerning political donations to ICAC in 2022.
But the inquiry has placed his family and political network under an uncomfortable spotlight. His younger brother Jean-Claude Perrottet is also a person of interest, while Charles has emerged as one of the central figures in Operation Rosny, the commission’s investigation into alleged electoral funding offences and other conduct.
Charles was a key organiser within the conservative wing of the NSW Liberal Party and played an important role in his brother’s rise. Dominic later recalled that Charles had been part of his political team from the beginning, a relationship he described in parliament in 2011 as one that would last “to the finish”.
Dominic went on to become treasurer before replacing Gladys Berejiklian as premier in October 2021. He lost office at the 2023 state election and now works for mining company BHP in Washington DC.
Messages tendered to the inquiry show Dominic thanking Charles for his support after becoming premier. Charles told his wife, Anita, that Dominic had thanked him not only for the election result but for the previous two decades of assistance. Anita replied that Dominic “couldn’t have done it without you”.
Anita Perrottet has separately faced questions over payments made to her by businesses linked to Greenwood. The inquiry heard she received more than 660,000 Australian dollars over about two and a half years for consultancy work, including a payment of 150,000 dollars a year for an average of 16 hours a week.
Charles defended the arrangement, telling the commission he did not consider 150,000 dollars for a year’s work to be a significant amount. Anita has said the payments were for strategic and marketing advice.
Jean Nassif was due to give evidence by video link from Lebanon, where he is avoiding serious fraud charges in Australia, but a medical certificate said he was not well enough to appear. His evidence may be rescheduled.
The ICAC inquiry, which began on July 27, is due to resume on Thursday, September 3, after its latest adjournment. Its allegations remain unproven, and the commission has not made findings of corruption against those involved.
