Key facts
- Senior politicians in the NSW Liberal party allegedly supported a group of young conservative power brokers known as the "Reformers".
- The Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) is investigating allegations of soliciting or accepting prohibited donations for party recruitment and control.
- A document outlined a plan to recruit 5,000 Christian conservatives to take control of the NSW Liberal party division.
- Fugitive property developer Jean Nassif and his company Toplace are accused of making prohibited donations in exchange for political outcomes.
- Legally intercepted communications involving Jean-Claude and Charles Perrottet, brothers of former Premier Dominic Perrottet, have been referred to Icac.
Senior politicians within the New South Wales Liberal party allegedly supported a group of young conservative power brokers, known as the "Reformers", in their efforts to gain control of the party and steer it further to the right. These allegations emerged during the opening of the Independent Commission Against Corruption's (Icac) Operation Rosny hearings, which commenced on Monday.
The commission is investigating claims that Liberal figures solicited or accepted donations, including from prohibited donors and in amounts exceeding caps, to recruit or renew party members, a practice known as "branch stacking".
According to counsel assisting the commission, Peggy Dwyer SC, the "Reformers" core group included lobbyist Christian Ellis, consultant Robert Assaf, and Jean-Claude Perrottet, brother of former Liberal premier Dominic Perrottet. Lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood allegedly facilitated the group's receipt of funds.
Dwyer stated that evidence would demonstrate "a number of senior politicians in the NSW Liberal party supported the work of the Reformers, including by speaking at their events or otherwise facilitating the work they did in recruiting and renewal for branches". Special guests at recruitment functions included former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott, broadcaster Alan Jones, and Catholic Schools NSW chief executive Dallas McInerney, who spoke on conservative and religious issues.
A document from Ellis's time as a staffer for federal senator Matt Canavan reportedly outlined the "Reformers'" mission as "taking back our nation through good government" and proposed recruiting 5,000 Christian conservatives to control the NSW Liberal party division. The alleged plans aimed for every winnable seat to be held by a conservative faction member, controlling 75% of the state executive and 60% of the state council.
Dwyer clarified that while branch-stacking itself is not inherently corrupt, the issue arises when funds come from prohibited donors or exceed applicable caps. The commission will investigate whether companies, such as Beckington (set up by Greenwood and Ellis), were used to collect illegal donations. Alleged donations included those from hotelier Michael O’Hara’s company, Paslibdan Pty Ltd, and Catholic Schools NSW, arranged by McInerney. Intercepted communications suggested purported retainer payments to Beckington from Catholic Schools NSW were a sham, though it's not suggested the body or its board were aware.
The watchdog is also examining a second allegation concerning fugitive property developer Jean Nassif and his company, Toplace, who allegedly made prohibited donations between 2020 and 2023 in exchange for political outcomes. These allegations, previously raised in a parliamentary inquiry, involve claims of significant funds being paid to senior party members to install councillors supportive of Nassif's applications. Legally intercepted communications between Nassif and Dominic Perrottet's brothers, Jean-Claude and Charles Perrottet, were referred to Icac by police.
Dwyer noted that key figures central to the allegations had left the jurisdiction or avoided cooperating with process servers, hindering the parliamentary inquiry. Charles Perrottet reportedly declined to return to NSW, while Jean-Claude Perrottet allegedly travelled to Fiji with financial assistance. Ellis reportedly stayed near the NSW-Victorian border to avoid servers before moving to the UK and declining to give evidence, citing family responsibilities and time zones.
Transcripts and recordings of intercepted communications were presented, including an exchange where Greenwood allegedly messaged Jean-Claude Perrottet about "filthy schools' money", to which Jean-Claude replied, "Don't put that in writing." Greenwood responded, "It deletes."
A third allegation involves two Labor Strathfield councillors, Sharangan Maheswaran and Karen Pensabene, accused of dishonest conduct, potential blackmail, and breaches of the Surveillance Devices Act towards a fellow councillor, Matthew Blackmore.
Michael O’Hara is a witness, with former Liberal staffer Dylan Whitelaw and Robert Assaf due to appear later in the week.