Charles Perrottet Dismisses Developer’s ‘Best Friend’ Claims as Inquiry Into NSW Liberals Intensifies
A high-stakes corruption inquiry into the New South Wales Liberal Party took a dramatic turn on Thursday as Charles Perrottet, the brother of former premier Dominic Perrottet, faced intense scrutiny over his dealings with property developer Jean Nassif.
During proceedings at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), the commission played a secretly recorded phone call from October 2021—the day after Dominic Perrottet ascended to the premiership. In the recording, Nassif is heard boasting, “The premier is my best friend… I’ve got my hand on the state government.”
‘Bravado’ or Corruption?
Charles Perrottet, who is at the center of allegations involving $2 million in prohibited donations, categorically dismissed the developer’s comments. He characterized Nassif’s claims of influence and friendship with the former premier as mere “bravado” and “far-fetched.”
Dominic Perrottet has not been named as a person of interest in the investigation and is not accused of any wrongdoing. Jean Nassif, who fled Australia for Lebanon in 2022, was scheduled to appear via video link but withdrew, citing a medical certificate.
The commission is currently investigating whether Charles Perrottet, alongside political figures Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis, facilitated prohibited donations from Nassif’s company, Toplace, in exchange for specific political favors. Among the alleged outcomes were the targeting of former minister David Elliott and the removal of former building commissioner David Chandler, who had been investigating defects in Toplace developments.
A Pattern of Misleading Claims
Counsel assisting the commission, Peggy Dwyer SC, pressed Charles Perrottet on whether he had used his brother’s political status to solicit payments. The inquiry heard that in May 2021, Perrottet met with Nassif at a high-end Melbourne restaurant, where he allegedly advised the developer that the most effective way to neutralize the building commissioner was to “dismantle” David Elliott’s political infrastructure.
When confronted with evidence of his own text messages—including one where he claimed he would “execute” Elliott—Perrottet claimed he had been consistently misleading Nassif. He argued that he added a “political flavour” to his communications to justify his lobbying fees, suggesting he frequently lied to both the developer and his associates to appear more influential than he actually was.
“You’re telling us you would regularly lie to Christian Ellis?” Dwyer asked.
“I may have,” Perrottet replied, maintaining that his statements were designed to sound supportive rather than reflecting genuine political action.
Escalating Tensions
The commission also examined a 2020 exchange between Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis, in which Greenwood expressed frustration over a failed development proposal, writing, “Charles fucked this whole thing.” Perrottet claimed he did not know what the message meant.
As the inquiry continues, the commission remains focused on whether the “political outcomes” sought by Nassif were directly purchased. With further testimony expected from Greenwood and Toplace executive Sharangan Maheswaran next week, the investigation into the intersection of NSW property development and factional Liberal politics shows no signs of slowing down.
