NSW Liberal Party's Reformers faction under Icac corruption inquiry for alleged illegal donations and branch stacking
Consensus Summary
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) is investigating the NSW Liberal Party’s Reformers faction for alleged illegal donations and branch stacking, with Jean-Claude Perrottet, the younger brother of former premier Dominic Perrottet, as a central figure. Perrottet admitted to performing factional work while employed by Damien Tudehope in 2018 and 2019, including recruiting members to branches not controlled by the right faction. He also acknowledged sending messages about targeting specific branches in Mitchell and Berowra. Tudehope, who is not accused of wrongdoing, admitted leaking a confidential draft report from the 2023 parliamentary inquiry to Jeremy Greenwood. The inquiry has also revealed that Perrottet was made redundant by Catholic Schools NSW in June [DATE UNVERIFIED], weeks before the hearings began. Dominic Perrottet referred the allegations to Icac in 2022 after Liberal MP Ray Williams raised them in a parliamentary speech. The Reformers, a conservative faction within the Liberal Party, have been linked to attempts to influence preselections and unseat sitting members, including federal MP Alex Hawke. Jean-Claude Perrottet has denied wrongdoing, and the inquiry continues with further testimony expected.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Jean-Claude Perrottet, 29, admitted to performing factional work for the Reformers while employed in Damien Tudehope’s electoral and ministerial offices in 2018 and 2019.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet joined the Liberal Party in 2015 and became a member of the Reformers in 2018.
- Damien Tudehope admitted leaking a confidential draft report from the 2023 parliamentary inquiry to Jeremy Greenwood in February 2023.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet admitted to messages about recruiting members to branches not controlled by the right faction, including a message from Christian Ellis: 'Two people happy to go into dodgy Branch'.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet was in Fiji during the 2023 parliamentary inquiry into the allegations.
- Damien Tudehope stepped aside from his shadow cabinet roles during the Icac inquiry.
- Kellie Sloane, NSW Liberal leader, deferred a decision on Damien Tudehope’s future until the end of the Icac inquiry.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet admitted to sending a 2019 text message: 'These c**** have just gone soft', referring to MPs being scared of an ICAC investigation.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet was questioned about a 2020 meeting where he and Christian Ellis asked businessman Frits Maré to contribute $50,000 to unseat federal MP Alex Hawke.
- Dominic Perrottet referred the allegations to ICAC in 2022 after Liberal MP Ray Williams raised them in a 2022 parliamentary speech.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet was found not guilty of rape in 2017, stemming from a 2015 incident at St John’s College, Sydney University.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Jean-Claude Perrottet was promoted to head of communications at Catholic Schools NSW in May 2026 before being made redundant in June 2026.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet described recruits as 'Some are Asian, Korean, and rest Wog' in a text message.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet admitted to messages about branches in Mitchell and Berowra, two federal seats, to optimize results for the right faction.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet said he did not recall sending the message 'Scott and Damien are afraid' in 2018.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet’s brother Charles Perrottet is also named in one allegation and expected to appear as a witness.
- Dominic Perrottet defended his brother in 2023, calling allegations 'political mud-slinging' ahead of the state election.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet was employed by David Clarke in 2019 after leaving Tudehope’s office.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet was 20 years old when he was found not guilty of rape in 2017.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet held rosary beads and appeared frustrated during questioning by ICAC.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet said he was 'passionate' about getting right-wing control of Liberal Party branches.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet said he was not sure if Damien Tudehope was aware he was doing factional work while on the clock.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet said he left his job with Tudehope in 2019 but denied leaving solely to get paid for Reformers work.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet will return as a witness to the inquiry on Thursday.
- Jean-Claude Perrottet’s brother Charles Perrottet is also expected to appear as a witness.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states Jean-Claude Perrottet was promoted to head of communications in May 2026, but the ABC does not mention this promotion.
- The Guardian says Jean-Claude Perrottet was 20 years old in 2017 when he was found not guilty of rape, but the ABC does not mention his age in this context.
- The Guardian states Jean-Claude Perrottet admitted to messages about branches in Mitchell and Berowra, while the ABC does not explicitly mention these specific branches.
Source Articles
NSW Liberal leader defers decision on frontbencher Damien Tudehope after leak revelations at Icac
Kellie Sloane says ‘leaking a report is never good’ as Reformer Jean-Claude Perrottet tells inquiry group signed up members to ‘dodgy’ branches Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The younger brother of a former Liberal premier has told an anti-corruption watchdog that a group of young conservative power breakers, now under investigation for soliciting illegal donations, recruited members to “dodgy” branches controll
Perrottet's brother admits factional work while employed by MP
The brother of former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet says he undertook factional work while on the clock for another MP in his first appearance before a corruption inquiry.
The Icac spotlight has shone on Dominic Perrottet’s brother – and it won’t be the last we hear from his family
Jean-Claude Perrottet was questioned at the Operation Rosny hearings about the actions of the NSW Liberals’ hard-right Reformers faction Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast It’s perhaps inevitable that in a large family there might be one member who is a bit of a wild card. It’s more problematic when that family has a distinctive surname and one is a public figure. Continue reading...
‘Scott and Damien are afraid’: senior Liberal quizzed at Icac about former staffer’s message
NSW shadow attorney general, Damien Tudehope, tells inquiry Jean-Claude Perrottet had a talent for recruiting A senior New South Wales Liberal says the younger brother of former Liberal premier Dominic Perrottet had a “talent” for recruiting and renewing new members to the party, a corruption inquiry has heard. On Tuesday, Damien Tudehope, the NSW shadow attorney general and Liberal leader in the upper house, gave evidence as part of the Independent Commission Against Corruption ’s (Icac) Operat