Key facts
- Former NSW fair trading minister Eleni Petinos testified at Icac that she was pressured to sack building commissioner David Chandler.
- Petinos believes her own sacking by Premier Dominic Perrottet was unfair and potentially linked to her refusal to dismiss Chandler.
- Charles Perrottet, the premier's brother, had previously told Petinos that Chandler was 'dodgy'.
- Chris Spence, a former MP, repeatedly contacted Petinos and her chief of staff about Chandler, claiming to have a video.
- John Barilaro, then Nationals leader, played Petinos an audio recording of Chandler making racist slurs.
- Petinos's chief of staff, Cassandra Lawry, felt she was being set up and reported a video of Chandler to Icac.
Former New South Wales fair trading minister Eleni Petinos has testified at an Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) inquiry, suggesting she was pressured by fellow Liberals to sack building commissioner David Chandler. Petinos stated that shortly after her appointment in December 2021, she faced numerous attempts to convince her that Chandler was 'dodgy' and should be removed.
Petinos believes her subsequent sacking as a minister in July 2022, officially for bullying staff, was unfair and potentially motivated by her reluctance to dismiss Chandler. She recounted Premier Dominic Perrottet's swift and 'cold' decision to sack her, which occurred after Chandler resigned with a letter alleging undue influence on the government by developers.
Evidence presented indicated that Charles Perrottet, the premier's brother and a party power broker, had also suggested Chandler was 'dodgy'. Additionally, former MP Chris Spence, a friend of Petinos, repeatedly contacted her and her chief of staff, Cassandra Lawry, about Chandler, claiming to possess a video of him. Former Nationals leader John Barilaro also played Petinos an audio recording of Chandler making racist slurs.
Lawry testified that she felt she was being set up and had reported a video of Chandler to Icac, though she did not name Spence as her source. She was aware of Spence's friendship with Charles Perrottet. Chandler has denied any wrongdoing, and both Petinos and Dominic Perrottet have not been named as persons of interest in the inquiry.