$150k payment for part-time work not a 'significant' sum, says Perrottet

Charles Perrottet defends $150k payment made to his wife for part-time work for lobbyist, ICAC hearsPosted Tue 1 Sep 2026 at 1:56pmTue 1 Sep 2026 at 1:56pmCharles Perrottet has fronted the NSW ICAC about payments made to his wife. (ABC News)In short:Charles Perrottet has given evidence to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, where he was grilled over his wife's earnings.Anita Perrottet received a $150,000 yearly payment for an average of 16 hours a week of consultancy work for lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood — a key member of the inquiry.Mr Perrottet is defending his wife's earnings, describing the figure as not a "significant" amount.The brother of former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet has defended a $150,000 yearly payment made to his wife for an average of 16 hours a week of work, describing it as not a "significant" amount.The payment was made by Beckington, a company linked to lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood, who was working with fugitive property developer Jean Nassif and his company Toplace.The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry has previously heard that Anita Perrottet worked an average of 16 hours a week through her company, Macquarie Consulting, for Mr Greenwood's businesses and received more than $660,000 over about two-and-a-half years.On Tuesday, counsel assisting the commission Peggy Dwyer SC asked Ms Perrottet's husband Charles Perrottet, a key member of the inquiry, whether he agreed $150,000 was a significant figure for work done on a "flexible level"."$150,000 for a year's worth of work, I don't think, is a significant amount of money," Mr Perrottet said."Value is in the eye of the beholder. If there were value, if Jeremy had seen value in the work, he was paying accordingly."Anita Perrottet gave evidence last week. (ABC News)Mr Perrottet also told the public hearing that some of the money paid to Macquarie Consulting also covered advice he personally provided to Mr Greenwood about Toplace.The evidence differs from an account given by Ms Perrottet last week, when she told the commission the payments were for her own consulting work and that neither she nor her husband had worked to benefit Toplace.Dr Dwyer challenged Mr Perrottet over why he did not disclose the arrangement in earlier private hearings and whether he told his wife some of the money was compensation for his advice.Dwyer: "Did you deliberately hide it from your wife?"Perrottet: "I wouldn't say deliberately hide it, but I wanted her … that she felt valued. She was doing a lot of good work for Jeremy."Dwyer: "Sure, but did you just want to patronise Anita so that she thought she was genuinely charging for this work when, in fact, it was your advice?"Perrottet: "No, not at all. She was doing a lot of good work. She had her own, relationship with Jeremy. She had a negotiation with Jeremy on how much you would be paid. The invoices reflected, the advice I gave and hers. I just don't can't tell you how much I disclosed to Anita."ICAC is examining whether payments made through companies linked to Mr Greenwood were genuine consulting fees or used to disguise money intended for political purposes.It is investigating allegations that prohibited political donations were channelled through third parties to support the NSW Liberal Party's right-wing faction and advance Mr Nassif's interests.Dominic Perrottet is not accused of wrongdoing.