Key facts
- Charles Perrottet denied accepting payments from property developer Jean Nassif for political outcomes.
- He testified before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac).
- Perrottet could not explain a message stating "Charles fucked this whole thing" after a development was refused.
- He admitted to potentially lying to a friend, Christian Ellis, to appear supportive.
- Icac is investigating allegations of $2 million in prohibited donations from Nassif to Perrottet, Ellis, and Jeremy Greenwood in exchange for political outcomes.
- The inquiry also concerns branch stacking within the NSW Liberals.
Charles Perrottet has denied accepting payments from property developer Jean Nassif in exchange for political outcomes. Testifying before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac), Perrottet stated he could not explain a message suggesting he "fucked this whole thing" after a development was refused, and admitted he may have lied to a friend about his actions.
Icac is investigating allegations that Perrottet, along with Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis, received prohibited donations totaling $2 million from Nassif or his company Toplace between 2020 and 2023. These donations are alleged to have been in exchange for political outcomes and the recruitment of members to the Liberal party, a practice known as branch stacking.
Perrottet told the commission he would regularly mislead Nassif, adding a "political flavour" to advice to chase payments for lobbying work. He rejected accusations of fabricating evidence to Icac. He also denied that Nassif was financially supporting branch stacking efforts, despite evidence of a meeting and subsequent deposit from Toplace to a company controlled by Ellis and Greenwood.
Greenwood's messages to Ellis expressed concern about losing Toplace as a client after a development proposal was refused. Perrottet stated he did not know what Greenwood's message, "Charles fucked this whole thing," meant. He also could not recall calling NSW Liberal MP Robyn Preston, as detailed in a text exchange about assisting with Toplace developments.
Counsel assisting, Peggy Dwyer SC, suggested Perrottet was fabricating evidence to Icac. Perrottet also denied that Greenwood shared his view that money had to be handed over to achieve political outcomes. Jean Nassif, who has fled Australia, withdrew from an expected appearance via video link.