Lobbyist for developer defends digging up dirt on MP
Duncan Murray and Farid Farid |
A “shit sheet” intended to discredit a former NSW minister included false allegations of an extra marital affair, a corruption inquiry has been told.
But the creator of a dirt file claims it wasn’t intended to further the interests of his fugitive developer client.
Jeremy Greenwood, who worked for Nationals leader Matt Canavan in 2017 before starting a lobbying firm, gave evidence at the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption for a second day on Tuesday.
ICAC is probing alleged illicit political donations and branch-stacking spearheaded by the Reformers – a conservative Christian faction among state Liberals.
Mr Greenwood defended a document he asked to be created in December 2020, intended to discredit then NSW police minister David Elliott.
But he denied the document was created to assist his client, controversial developer Jean Nassif and his company Toplace.
“I had other issues with David at the same time,” Mr Greenwood told the inquiry.
At the time, Mr Greenwood said his work for Nassif involved trying to move an application the developer had in front of the Hills Shire Council, to a state-based approvals process.
But he acknowledged Nassif had a “very low regard” for Mr Elliott.
“Did you know at that time that he (Nassif) was keen to discredit Mr Elliott to serve his business interests?” counsel assisting the inquiry Peggy Dwyer asked.
“Yes, among a range of interests, but yes,” Mr Greenwood said.
Mr Greenwood said he and his associates were under attack by Mr Elliott at the time and he had made the document as a “defence”.
Assistant commissioner Fabian Gleeson interjected to ask Mr Greenwood if he believed it was appropriate for a lobbyist to be compiling dirt about members of parliament.
“You say it’s perfectly appropriate behaviour for a lobbyist to prepare … a document entitled a ‘shit sheet’ for the purpose of discrediting a politician?” an incredulous Mr Gleeson asked.
“Correct,” Mr Greenwood replied.
The sheet contained false allegations of Mr Elliott engaging in an extra-marital affair which Dr Dwyer labelled a “gross breach of privacy”.
An employee of Nassif’s, Sharangan Maheswaran, provided a photograph of Mr Elliott outside his house which was taken by a private Investigator, Mr Greenwood told the inquiry.
Nassif had a warrant issued for his arrest by NSW police over fraud allegations and is believed to be living in Lebanon.
Mr Greenwood spent much of the day’s evidence denying knowledge of money from Catholic Schools NSW and wealthy hotelier Michael O’Hara being funnelled through his company to support the Reformers.
Dr Dwyer outlined an alleged scheme, where his firm Beckington would secure money from Mr O’Hara and pay $5000 monthly to Jean-Claude Perrottet.
Dr Dwyer alleged the scheme involved fake invoices and labelled the arrangement “bogus”.
Mr Greenwood replied: “If he wanted money for a car, I’d give him money for the car. I’d give Claude whatever he wanted.”
Mr Greenwood also netted a $6000 monthly retainer through a lobbying contract with Catholic School NSW in 2019.
Dr Dwyer again suggested he had done minimal work to earn the money, because he was paid regardless.
Mr Greenwood said some months had been busier than others.
Dr Dwyer pressed him about a $100,000 lump sum payment from Dallas McInerney, a former head of the Catholic education body, he had referred to in texts.
“$100,000 is a lot of money for a fledgling organisation attracting its first client?” she asked.
“I can’t recall, I’m sorry,” Mr Greenwood answered.
Catholic Schools NSW, representing about 270,000 students and nearly 600 schools, receives more than $3.5 billion annually from the federal and state governments.
AAP