The political partnership once celebrated by brothers Dominic and Charles Perrottet has been placed under intense strain, with Charles at the centre of a corruption inquiry examining alleged illegal donations and influence within the New South Wales Liberal Party.
Charles Perrottet, a former powerbroker on the party’s conservative right, has admitted misleading property developer Jean Nassif in an attempt to keep him on side. He has nevertheless denied asking Mr Nassif for money in exchange for political outcomes.
The testimony has cast a shadow over the close relationship between the brothers, once known in NSW politics as the “Charlie-and-Dom team”. In his maiden speech to parliament in 2011, Dominic Perrottet singled out Charles, saying the pair had “been a team from the start” and would remain one “to the finish”.
Charles Perrottet is giving evidence to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption as part of Operation Rosny, a public inquiry into alleged breaches of electoral funding laws and possible corrupt conduct.
The commission is examining whether donations linked to Mr Nassif and his company, Toplace, were channelled through third parties and used to recruit or renew Liberal Party members. It is also investigating whether money was connected to efforts to damage the political career of former minister David Elliott and remove NSW building commissioner David Chandler.
ICAC has alleged that Charles Perrottet, lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis anticipated receiving a total of about A$2 million from Mr Nassif. The allegation has not been tested or proven, and the inquiry has not accused Dominic Perrottet of wrongdoing.
Charles Perrottet’s evidence before ICAC
During questioning, Charles Perrottet said he had sometimes added a “political flavour” to advice given to Mr Nassif while pursuing payments for genuine consultancy work. He maintained that he had not sought funds in return for political action.
The commission was shown a message in which he wrote that the best way to deal with Mr Chandler was to “take the fight to Elliott and dismantle his infrastructure”. He referred to payments connected to Toplace developments and said the strategy could leave Mr Elliott “on his knees”.
Charles Perrottet also faced questions over payments made to his wife, Anita Perrottet, for consultancy work through companies linked to Mr Greenwood. She received more than A$660,000 over roughly two and a half years, including a payment of A$150,000 for a year’s work.
He defended the sum, telling the inquiry that he did not consider A$150,000 significant for a year’s work and that the value of the arrangement was ultimately for the client to judge. His account differed from evidence given by his wife, who said the payments were for her own strategic and marketing advice.
Mr Nassif, who is living in Lebanon, was expected to appear by video link but has postponed his evidence after providing a medical certificate. His appearance has been rescheduled for later in the inquiry.
Dominic Perrottet, who referred the allegations to ICAC in 2022, is now working for mining group BHP in Washington DC after leaving NSW politics following the Coalition’s defeat at the 2023 state election.
For the former premier, who once presented his younger brother as a trusted political ally, the inquiry has instead made Charles’s conduct a central feature of a widening examination of power, money and factional influence inside the NSW Liberal Party.
