Recent phone conversations presented at a corruption investigation have unveiled that fugitive property developer Jean Nassif proposed a $100,000 contribution to support the Liberal preselection of a brother of former New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is currently probing whether individuals associated with the NSW Liberal Party have sought financial contributions from prohibited sources in an effort to benefit the right-leaning NSW Reformers faction.
The inquiry is particularly focused on whether donations linked to Mr. Nassif were exchanged for political advantages, including efforts to undermine former minister David Elliott’s career and the removal of building commissioner David Chandler.
During a recorded phone call from June 2021, Mr. Nassif discussed potential political support with Jean-Claude Perrottet, a member of the Reformers. Mr. Perrottet stated that Mr. Nassif had become his client while he was with Medallion Finance.
In the audio, Mr. Perrottet initially spoke about investment opportunities, but the discussion shifted to politics when Mr. Nassif suggested that $100,000 could be allocated to assist one of the Perrottet brothers in their preselection bid, or alternatively be funneled through Liberal party members Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis.
When asked which brother Mr. Nassif was referencing, Mr. Perrottet expressed confusion, stating, “I don’t know what he’s talking about to be honest. It’s clear it makes no sense.”
Juliet Curtin, counsel assisting the commission, argued that the call indicated members of the Reformers faction were attempting to secure financial support for their activities, highlighting Mr. Nassif’s offer to contribute. Mr. Perrottet countered this characterization, labeling it as “nonsense” and asserting that his tone in the conversation reflected his disbelief.
Dominic Perrottet, who referred the allegations to ICAC in 2022, is not implicated in any misconduct.
In another recorded conversation, Jean-Claude Perrottet approached Mr. Nassif regarding potential investments, but politics soon became the focal point again. During this exchange, Mr. Nassif accused Mr. Chandler of targeting him and claimed that former Hornsby MP Matt Kean was collaborating with David Elliott to oust Dominic Perrottet as premier.
Mr. Nassif stated, “They’re leading the fight now against your brother. They want to destroy his image. He’s a Christian. He’s an evil man.” Mr. Perrottet replied, “Yeah, I know. I didn’t know it was a crime to be Christian these days,” to which Mr. Nassif responded, “You know, I’ve got all my community behind him.” Mr. Perrottet expressed gratitude for Mr. Nassif’s support, saying, “It’s making a difference the work you’re doing.”
When questioned about the factional issues in Castle Hill and Baulkham Hills, Mr. Perrottet remarked, “Help in that area would be awesome.”
While testifying before the commission, Mr. Perrottet characterized the $100,000 offer as a trivial remark.
Last week, the inquiry revealed that Jean-Claude Perrottet had traveled to Fiji during the 2023 parliamentary investigation into alleged illegal donations involving Liberal Party members and developers. The commission noted that Mr. Perrottet received “financial assistance from others named in allegations” for this trip.
When asked if he deliberately avoided giving evidence at the parliamentary inquiry by going to Fiji, Mr. Perrottet maintained that he viewed it as a “sham inquiry,” stating, “I went to Fiji because I was not in a good place and I didn’t want to partake in what I believed is a sham inquiry.”
