ICAC inquiry into NSW building commissioner, developer Nassif, and political donations
Consensus Summary
The ICAC inquiry is examining allegations of corruption involving former NSW building commissioner David Chandler, fugitive developer Jean Nassif, and political donations. Both sources confirm Chandler testified about a 2021 meeting with Toplace executives where an alleged $5m extortion attempt was discussed to lift a prohibition order on the Skyview project in Castle Hill. Nassif allegedly threatened Chandler in a 2021 phone call, and an anonymous email suggested paying $5m to a lawyer would resolve the issue. ICAC is probing whether $2m payments by Nassif to Liberal Party-linked figures were illegal donations. Chandler resigned in July 2022 but was later reinstated. The Guardian adds details of a 2020 clash between Chandler and Nassif, a June 2022 video incident involving certifiers, and claims Petinos was targeted in a destabilisation campaign, while the ABC focuses on the extortion allegation and political favours linked to Nassif.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- David Chandler, former NSW building commissioner, testified at ICAC in 2026 about an alleged $5m extortion attempt targeting Toplace in 2021
- A 2021 meeting between Chandler and Toplace representatives (including Sharangan Maheswaran) discussed lifting a prohibition order on the Skyview project in Castle Hill
- An anonymous email in 2021 suggested paying $5m to a lawyer (William Roberts) would result in lifting orders on Toplace developments
- Jean Nassif, a fugitive developer linked to Toplace, allegedly threatened Chandler in a 2021 phone call ('If you harm my project, I’ll harm you')
- ICAC is investigating whether $2m payments by Nassif to Liberal Party-linked figures (Jeremy Greenwood, Christian Ellis, Charles Perrottet) were illegal political donations
- Chandler banned Nassif from site inspections after the 2021 phone call and resolved not to deal with him directly
- Nassif fled Australia for rural Lebanon in 2022 and is expected to appear before ICAC by video link next week
- Chandler resigned in July 2022 but was later reinstated and served until 2024
- Eleni Petinos replaced Kevin Anderson as fair trading minister in October 2021
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Chandler was not provided with a copy of the alleged $5m extortion email but referred it to his department for investigation
- Toplace executives did not assist with the departmental investigation into the extortion claim
- ICAC is also examining whether donations linked to Nassif were exchanged for political favours, including removing Chandler as commissioner
- The ICAC inquiry focuses on the relationship between Nassif, Liberal Party operatives, and potential breaches of NSW electoral laws
- Chandler clashed with Nassif in person in 2020 at a meeting where Nassif became 'loud and overbearing'
- A video from June 2022 showed Chandler discussing an 'informal list' of dodgy certifiers, leading to an internal investigation and training requirement
- The video was raised with Eleni Petinos in May 2022 and again in June 2022 by Chris Spence (chief of staff to Anthony Roberts)
- Petinos and her chief of staff, Cassandra Lawry, testified they believed they were part of a campaign to destabilise Chandler
- Nassif allegedly described Petinos as 'my girl' in a tape played during the inquiry
- Chandler cited 'lack of confidence from the minister and undue pressure from developers' as reasons for his July 2022 resignation
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The ABC does not mention a 2020 meeting between Chandler and Nassif, while the Guardian states they clashed in person that year
- The Guardian specifies Chandler ordered a 'destructive inspection' of a Toplace building in Botany in 2020, but the ABC does not reference this event
- The Guardian notes Chandler was cleared of wrongdoing in two internal investigations (extortion allegation and video incident) but does not mention if the ABC confirms this
- The ABC does not mention the video from June 2022 showing Chandler discussing certifiers, which the Guardian details as a key part of the pressure campaign
Source Articles
Ex-NSW building commissioner tells ICAC of alleged $5m shakedown
Former NSW building commissioner David Chandler has told a corruption inquiry that an allegation of an "extortion attempt" targeting construction company Toplace was used against him in efforts to get a prohibition order on its development lifted.
‘If you harm my project, I’ll harm you’: former NSW official tells Icac about fugitive developer’s call
Former building commissioner David Chandler told inquiry of clashes with ‘loud and overbearing’ developer Jean Nassif Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A fugitive Sydney developer allegedly warned the then-New South Wales building commissioner that he would “harm” him if he got in the way of his projects which were being inspected for defects, the corruption watchdog has heard. Giving evidence to the Independent Commission against Corruption on Thursday, David Chandler
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