Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
National
Sarah Spina-Matthews

THE TRUTH ABOUT: Power brokers wife grilled over disappearing messages - Caught on Camera

Former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet's sister-in-law has faced an inquiry into political donations. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

"We execute the prick as soon as party room is over."

Those are the words one of Dominic Perrottet's brothers texted his wife about a minister, shortly after the former NSW premier won the support of his party to take over as Liberal leader.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating allegations Liberal Party operatives, including Mr Perrottet's brother Charles, sought cash from fugitive Sydney developer Jean Nassif in exchange for political outcomes.

It is also investigating allegations prohibited political donations were funnelled through third parties to support a Christian right-wing faction of the Liberal Party, known as the Reformers.

Former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet (file image)
Dominic Perrottet is not a person of interest at the corruption inquiry. (James Gourley/AAP PHOTOS)

Charles Perrottet's wife Anita faced a five-hour grilling by the commission on Friday, where she repeatedly said she was unsure or could not remember when asked questions.

She previously said she did not know the details of her husband's factional dealings within the party.

But Ms Perrottet was shown a text exchange between her and her husband from October 3, 2021 - the night Dominic Perrottet gained enough support to take over from the ousted Gladys Berejiklian.

Dominic Perrottet is not a person of interest in the inquiry.

Former NSW Liberal minister David Elliott (file image)
David Elliott has told the inquiry about an alleged ploy to push him out of the Liberal Party. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC said the text about the "prick" referred to former police minister David Elliott.

When pressed, Ms Perrottet repeatedly said she was unsure if the message was about Mr Elliott, saying she liked the message simply to indicate she had seen it.

Mr Elliott earlier gave evidence at the inquiry about an alleged ploy by the Reformers to push him out of the party.

Charles Perrottet fronted the commission after his wife, where he said he had met Jean Nassif at least 10 times.

He said he gave advice to Nassif, which was passed on to him by lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood, about the "fast-tracking process" in relation to the developer's projects.

Mr Perrottet also confirmed he was in fact referring to Mr Elliott in the email.

He agreed that Nassif complained about Mr Elliott because the former minister was against overdevelopment in his constituency at that time.

Mr Perrottet said he may have told Nassif that he was "working on" getting rid of Mr Elliott.

The commission earlier heard Ms Perrottet claimed the costs of hotels, flights, taxis and to hire a car seat for her children for a trip to Sydney in October 2021, under her business Macquarie Consulting.

Jeremy Greenwood leaving the ICAC
The inquiry has heard Anita Perrottet's company received money from Jeremy Greenwood (left). (Damian Shaw/AAP PHOTOS)

Ms Perrottet said she made the trip to meet with Mr Greenwood, her only client, before being shown a text exchange and phone records indicating she was home in Melbourne at the time, and her husband was in fact in Sydney.

She denied her husband was in Sydney meeting with Nassif and claiming the relevant expenses against her business.

The expense claims were an "error", she said.

Ms Perrottet's consulting company was paid almost $315,000 over 18 months by Mr Greenwood for what she said was "strategic and marketing advice".

But she earlier told the commission she had no written evidence of this work as it was not "the nature of the work she was employed to do".

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.