Arabic version: لجنة النزاهة تسمع أدلة بشأن رحلة إلى فيجي في تحقيق «الإصلاحيين»
According to The Guardian, lobbyist and consultant Jeremy Greenwood told the Independent Commission Against Corruption that he gave Jean-Claude Perrottet, brother of former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet, his credit card details to book flights to Fiji in February 2023. ICAC’s Operation Rosny is examining whether the Christian Liberal group known as the Reformers solicited or accepted prohibited donations linked to party membership recruitment or renewal.
Greenwood said he suggested that Jean-Claude Perrottet travel to Fiji and that he proposed Sharangan Maheswaran ask his boss, fugitive property developer Jean Nassif, to cover the costs. The inquiry heard that three loans totalling $25,000 were paid for the trip through Greenwood’s lobbying firm, JPG Advisory. Greenwood wrote to Perrottet to “send food photos” from Fiji, ICAC heard.
The parliamentary inquiry that preceded ICAC’s probe had summoned Greenwood, Reformers figures Christian Ellis and Jean-Claude Perrottet, and Charles Perrottet, another brother of the former premier, to public hearings in 2023. ICAC has previously heard they avoided those summonses. Dominic Perrottet is not named as a person of interest in ICAC’s allegations.
Evidence also addressed Catholic Schools NSW chief executive Dallas McInerney. After McInerney received a letter from the parliamentary inquiry chair, Greenwood sent a message stating, “WTF. Go to Brisbane”, the inquiry heard. Greenwood said he did not recall sending the messages. Jean-Claude Perrottet later negotiated a $165,000 employment contract with Catholic Schools NSW while avoiding the 2023 parliamentary inquiry.
Earlier evidence heard Reformers members received a “kickback” from consultancy payments made by Catholic Schools NSW. Greenwood agreed to pay Jean-Claude Perrottet half of a monthly retainer if he secured a contract with McInerney, while Robert Assaf received a one-off 10% of the retainer, the inquiry heard. Greenwood rejected a suggestion that the consultancy was not genuine. He is expected to appear again before the commission, while McInerney is due to give evidence on Thursday and Friday.
