Charles Perrottet denies fabricating evidence as ICAC Operation Rosny enters seventh week

Perrottet resumed his evidence as the inquiry entered its sixth week, and reports at the time indicated he was expected to remain in the witness box for the rest of the week. During the hearings he was asked whether his wife, Anita, had lied to the commission. He denied fabricating evidence, and was back before the commission after those denials were reported.

Reporting from the inquiry also said that Jeremy Greenwood approached Nassif "after negative media" — a development that emerged as the investigation entered its seventh week. The commission is investigating the relationships between Liberal Party operatives, Nassif and Catholic Schools NSW. Nassif has been described in the inquiry as a fugitive property developer. The hearings are continuing, with no findings announced.

Why This Matters

The inquiry sits at the intersection of party politics, property development and the Catholic schools sector in NSW, testing how political operatives dealt with outside interests.
The commission's assessment of Perrottet's credibility — and the questions raised about his wife's evidence — will bear directly on any findings it makes.
Seven weeks in, the operation remains an open public inquiry, and further evidence is expected.

Background

ICAC is New South Wales' independent anti-corruption commission, a standing body that conducts public hearings into suspected corruption in the state's government and public sector. Operation Rosny is examining the links between Liberal Party operatives, Jean Nassif — a property developer described in proceedings as a fugitive — and Catholic Schools NSW, the state's peak body for Catholic education. The hearings have run for seven weeks, with Charles Perrottet and Jeremy Greenwood among the witnesses. No findings have been made public.

Key Perspectives

The commission: ICAC is assembling evidence about the contacts between operatives, Nassif and Catholic Schools NSW; the reliability of witness accounts, including Perrottet's, is central to that work.

Charles Perrottet: He has denied fabricating evidence and has continued to give evidence over consecutive weeks; the questions about his wife's testimony have put his credibility at the centre of the hearing.

Jeremy Greenwood: The reporting that Greenwood approached Nassif "after negative media" puts the timing and purpose of that contact under scrutiny.

Critics and observers: Long-running public inquiries raise questions about the burden on witnesses and the time taken to reach conclusions; with Nassif a fugitive, the commission must weigh the accounts given without his direct testimony.

What to Watch

Whether Perrottet's evidence concludes in the coming days and what further detail emerges about the alleged fabrication.
Any additional evidence about Greenwood's approach to Nassif and the circumstances that prompted it.
Whether the commission signals how much longer the operation will run and whether findings of corrupt conduct follow.

ZOTPAPER