ICAC investigates payments to Anita Perrottet’s consulting firm and alleged illegal political donations
Consensus Summary
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating whether payments totaling $254,666 made to Anita Perrottet’s consulting firm Macquarie Consulting in late 2022 were for legitimate consulting work or disguised funds intended for her husband Charles Perrottet. The payments came from businesses owned by lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood, including Beckington and JPG Advisory. Anita Perrottet testified that the payments were for verbal strategic and marketing advice, but ICAC has found no evidence she performed any actual work for these companies. The inquiry also examines allegations that Charles Perrottet, along with Christian Ellis and Greenwood, received prohibited political donations from fugitive developer Jean Nassif between 2020 and 2023, with the men allegedly expecting to share $2 million. Anita Perrottet has struggled to recall key details, including why invoices were issued or altered, and whether she was ever a Liberal Party member. She will continue giving evidence on Friday, followed by her husband Charles. While Dominic Perrottet, Charles’s brother and former NSW premier, is not accused of wrongdoing, the inquiry focuses on whether funds were funneled through Macquarie Consulting to support Charles’s political activities.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Anita Perrottet was paid $254,666 for three months of consulting work in 2022 (final quarter) by JPG Advisory and Beckington
- ICAC is investigating whether payments to Macquarie Consulting (Anita Perrottet’s company) by Jeremy Greenwood’s businesses Beckington and JPG Advisory were for genuine consulting work or disguised funds for Charles Perrottet
- Anita Perrottet received a $10,000 monthly retainer from Beckington with no written agreement
- Anita Perrottet could not recall why a $150,000 invoice (sent by Charles Perrottet) for 12 months of work did not reconcile with three lump-sum payments from Beckington
- Anita Perrottet said she provided verbal advice to Beckington and JPG Advisory, including for clients like Greyhound Racing NSW
- Charles Perrottet is not accused of any wrongdoing, and Dominic Perrottet (his brother) is not accused of wrongdoing in this inquiry
- Anita Perrottet will continue giving evidence on Friday before her husband Charles takes the stand
- Macquarie Consulting was set up in August 2020 with Anita Perrottet as sole director and shareholder
- ICAC is investigating whether Ellis, Greenwood, and Charles Perrottet took prohibited political donations from Jean Nassif between 2020 and 2023
- Anita Perrottet said she had no knowledge of a $150,000 payment from Jean Nassif to JPG Advisory around the time of the 2022 invoices
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Peggy Dwyer SC questioned the scale of payments, stating 'That's based on a salary of $1 million, Mrs Perrottet ... let's get serious'
- ICAC has ordered Anita Perrottet to provide phone records and messages involving Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis
- Dominic Perrottet is not accused of any wrongdoing (repeated multiple times)
- Ms Perrottet said she could not recall the details of the fee arrangement but maintained she probably discussed it with Mr Greenwood
- The men allegedly anticipated receiving $2 million to be distributed evenly between Ellis, Greenwood, and Charles Perrottet
- Anita Perrottet said she was paid $333,500 for Beckington work, including a $30,000 finder’s fee, with payments totaling $170,500 (more than the $150,000 invoice)
- Anita Perrottet said she was not aware of visits by Charles Perrottet with their two children to Jean Nassif’s home in 2022
- Anita Perrottet said she could not remember if she had ever been a member of the Liberal Party
- Anita Perrottet said she was not aware of a significant amount of money paid to Beckington by Toplace on the same day as other payments
- Charles Perrottet declined to turn up and give evidence to a 2023 parliamentary inquiry into illegal donations and The Hills Shire Council
- His brother, Jean-Claude, stayed in Fiji for the duration of the 2023 inquiry while Christian Ellis and Jeremy Greenwood hid to avoid summons
- Dwyer read out evidence from a secret hearing in February 2024 where Anita Perrottet admitted knowing Charles Perrottet was bringing matters to a committee since 2018 or 2019
- Anita Perrottet could not remember why she urgently asked to be removed as a shareholder from Beckington National, a company established during COVID-19 lockdowns
- Dwyer’s opening statement said ICAC found no evidence Anita Perrottet carried out any work for Beckington or JPG Advisory, but found evidence Christian Ellis dictated invoice structures to Charles Perrottet for the 2021-2022 financial year
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian states Anita Perrottet was paid almost $255,000 for a single quarter in January 2022, while ABC and SMH specify the $254,666 payment was for the last three months of 2022
- The Guardian says Anita Perrottet was paid $333,500 for Beckington work, including a $30,000 finder’s fee, while ABC and SMH do not mention this specific breakdown
- The Guardian states Anita Perrottet said she was not aware of visits by Charles Perrottet with their two children to Nassif’s home, but SMH notes that text messages between Charles and Nassif described such visits
- SMH mentions Charles Perrottet avoided a 2023 parliamentary inquiry, while ABC and Guardian do not reference this specific event
- The Guardian says Anita Perrottet was paid $170,500 in three lump sums after a $150,000 invoice, but ABC and SMH do not specify this exact total
Source Articles
Wife of key figure in ICAC probe paid $254k for three months of work
The NSW corruption watchdog has heard that the wife of a key figure in the inquiry was paid $254,666 for three months of consulting.
Dominic Perrottet’s sister-in-law denies lying under oath to protect husband over allegedly illegal donations, Icac hears
Anita Perrottet tells an inquiry hearing that hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments to her were for ‘strategic and marketing advice’ Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The sister-in-law of Dominic Perrottet has rejected the suggestion she had been put in an “impossible situation” and lied under oath to cover illegal donations to her husband, an inquiry has heard. Anita Perrottet, wife of Charles Perrottet , told the New South Wales Independent Commission Against
Anita Perrottet paid $254k for being a ‘sounding board’, corruption inquiry hears
Anita Perrottet, the sister-in-law of former premier Dominic Perrottet, has denied suggestions she was asked to lie under oath to cover for her husband.
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