{
  "id": 10792252,
  "title": "Five bombshell moments from NSW corruption watchdog's marathon inquiry",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/five-bombshell-moments-from-nsw-corruption-watchdogs-marathon-inquiry",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-29T22:09:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-30/nsw-icac-operation-rosny-wraps-marathon-public-inquiries/107207378"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Over the course of two months, the NSW corruption watchdog has been examining allegations linking a fugitive property developer named Jean Nassif to Liberal Party factional politics. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry, known as Operation Rosny, has sifted through thousands of pages of documents, played bombshell phone taps, and heard testimony from 20 witnesses. As the inquiry's public hearings draw to a close, here are five notable moments from the proceedings.\n\nInitial to the inquiry, Jean Nassif, the founder of collapsed property group Toplace, was not expected to testify before the commission. The investigation was focused on whether Nassif paid Liberal Party operatives to achieve political outcomes that would benefit his developments. Shortly after the inquiry began, Nassif's name appeared on the public witness list, after which he gave evidence from Beirut over two afternoons. Initially, his testimony appeared civil, but it quickly turned heated as Nassif denied any involvement in corrupt activities and accused the \"deep state\" of wrongdoing.\n\nA particularly compelling moment came when ICAC played intercepted phone calls. In one call, Nassif was heard gloating about his influence on then-NSW premier Dominic Perrottet, who was recently appointed. In another call, Nassif offered $100,000 to support the Liberal preselection of one of Perrottet's brothers, with the money to be paid either directly to him or through Liberal figures Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis. Nassif also expressed his intention to remove building commissioner David Chandler from his job and disparaged former Liberal MP David Elliott.\n\nThe inquiry revealed the Reformers' deep involvement in the NSW Liberal Party. Founded in 2018 by Jean-Claude Perrottet and Robert Assaf, the Reformers aimed to push the Liberal Party to the right. They recruited members, influenced branch numbers, and built factional power. Former Liberal staffer Dylan Whitelaw claimed to have done Reformers work while employed at Catholic Schools NSW, while Jean-Claude Perrottet admitted to performing factional duties while working for Liberal MP Damien Tudehope. Evidence suggested that Jean-Claude Perrottet and Charles Perrottet, brother of Nassif, were paid $2 million to fast-track government approvals for Nassif's building projects and target political enemies.\n\nFinally, the inquiry brought attention to a $660,999 consulting arrangement for Jean-Claude Perrottet's wife, Anita Perrottet, over a two-and-a-half-year period. Though the Reformers claimed the work was verbal, such as marketing and strategic advice, there was little evidence to support these claims. ICAC Commissioner Dr Dwyer questioned Anita Perrottet's claims of being \"worth\" the payment, as there were few records of the work performed.",
  "summary": "Revisit the biggest revelations and tense moments from NSW ICAC's Operation Rosny, as public hearings end and the anti-corruption commission adjourns to consider evidence.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}