Key facts
- Charles Perrottet admitted to fabricating updates for property developer Jean Nassif.
- He told Icac he would "regularly mislead" Nassif about his involvement in lobbying work.
- Perrottet denied lying about the purpose of a $148,500 cheque he collected.
- Payments totalling $660,999 were made to his wife, Anita Perrottet, for "strategic and marketing advice".
- Perrottet believed the payments to his wife did not need to be disclosed in his tax return.
Charles Perrottet, brother of former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, has told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) that he "made up" updates for property developer Jean Nassif to "keep him on side," but denied lying to the watchdog.
Perrottet is among three Liberal figures alleged to have anticipated receiving $2 million in prohibited political donations from Nassif. He told the Icac hearing on Monday that he provided advice with a "political flavour" when chasing payments for genuine services provided to Nassif’s company, Toplace, by lobbying company Beckington.
Under questioning from counsel assisting, Peggy Dwyer SC, Perrottet rejected the suggestion that his arrangement with Nassif was similar to one he sought to expose, where rivals allegedly circumvented electoral funding laws. Dwyer suggested Perrottet was trying to get on board a "money train" by promising political outcomes for Nassif if he gave money.
Perrottet admitted to fabricating messages about actions taken in relation to Toplace developments, including a reference to speaking with a "PDU contact" when he had no such contact. He also accepted telling Nassif that a cheque for $148,500 was for "assistance for the upcoming preselections," but insisted it was for genuine lobbying work by Beckington.
Dwyer accused Perrottet of lying to the commission, stating that his evidence contradicted his earlier private examination where he said he was picking up a statutory declaration. She suggested he was constructing his evidence around the truth of it being a cheque.
Perrottet agreed that his wife, Anita Perrottet, would receive money for advice he provided to Nassif through her business, Macquarie Consulting, from Beckington and JPG Advisory. Payments to Anita Perrottet totalled $660,999 over two-and-a-half years for "strategic and marketing advice." Charles Perrottet stated it was his understanding that this income did not need to be disclosed in his tax return. He claimed to have met with Christian Ellis and Anita to discuss the invoice arrangement, which Dwyer said directly contradicted Anita Perrottet’s evidence that she had only spoken with Jeremy Greenwood about payments.
Jean Nassif, who fled Australia in 2022, is expected to appear by video link from Lebanon on Friday. He has previously denied any wrongdoing.