Premier’s brother ‘relaxed’ in Fiji to dodge inquiry
Duncan Murray and Farid Farid |
An ex-premier’s brother and a political lobbyist went to great lengths to avoid a parliamentary inquiry into their alleged corrupt behaviour.
Jeremy Greenwood paid for Jean-Claude Perrottet to fly to Fiji to avoid being summoned to a 2023 inquiry, the former staffer turned lobbyist told NSW’s Independent Commission Against Corruption on Wednesday.
Jean-Claude Perrottet is the younger brother of Dominic Perrottet, who at the time was NSW’s premier and is not accused of any wrongdoing.
When the former premier’s brother asked Mr Greenwood what he should be doing while lying low in Fiji, he told him: “relax, read a book, gym, beers”.
“This is so ridiculous, pretty funny,” the younger Perrottet wrote back.
“It really is. It’s something you’ll look back at and laugh about,” Mr Greenwood replied.
Jean-Claude Perrottet was a member of a conservative Christian faction known as the Reformers, which is behind alleged illicit political donations and branch-stacking being investigated by ICAC.
The watchdog is investigating if political donations from fugitive developer Jean Nassif and his company Toplace were taken between 2020 and 2023 in return for favourable outcomes.
Mr Greenwood later suggested Nassif should pick up the tab for Jean-Claude Perrottet’s Fiji stay, saying he was the cause of the inquiry.
Nassif has a warrant out for his arrest over fraud allegations and is believed to have fled Australia to Lebanon.
Mr Greenwood admitted he took steps to avoid a summons and had security posted outside his house arranged by a Nassif employee.
“I didn’t want to give evidence … I did not respect the inquiry,” he said.
Liberal frontbencher Chris Rath informed Mr Greenwood the inquiry had an old address for him and therefore would not be able to contact him, the inquiry heard.
The ICAC inquiry is also probing whether money from donors including Catholic Schools NSW was funnelled through Mr Greenwood’s advisory firm to pay Mr Perrottet for doing Reformers work.
When Catholic Schools NSW chief executive Dallas McInerney told Mr Greenwood he received a letter from the parliamentary inquiry, the lobbyist replied, “Wtf. Go to Brisbane”.
Mr Greenwood said he might have been joking.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Greenwood denied knowledge of an alleged scheme to pass Catholic Schools NSW money to Mr Perrottet under fraudulent invoices labelled as consultancy work.
“You know I’m good to you and help you and give you your filthy schools money … and put up with your f***ing whining,” Mr Greenwood wrote in a 2023 message to Mr Perrottet.
Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer pressed Mr Greenwood what he meant by “filthy schools money”.
“It’s honestly just a stupid joke,” Mr Greenwood said.
“I’m not getting it, Mr Greenwood,” Dr Dwyer replied.
After the statement, Mr Perrottet rebuked Mr Greenwood, telling him “don’t put that in writing”.
“It’s clearly a message in relation to the arrangement you had to pass on the money from Catholic Schools for a consultancy that wasn’t actually occurring,” Dr Dwyer said.
“It was just a stupid joke where I’m trying to rile him up about something I know would make him nervous to hear,” Mr Greenwood replied.
Assistant Commissioner Fabien Gleeson interjected to ask Mr Greenwood why the phrase “filthy schools money” would make Mr Perrottet nervous.
“He always gets nervous about everything,” Mr Greenwood explained.
AAP