ICAC Operation Rosny LIVE updates: Charles Perrottet to resume evidence, in witness box for rest of week

9.09am‘We’ll be a team to the finish,’ said Dom Perrottet of brother Charles. This looks like the finishBy Alexandra SmithOpinion: A fresh-faced Dominic Perrottet had no qualms about playing favourites when it came to his 12 siblings. “I would like to particularly single out my brother Charles, who has worked alongside me in politics,” the newly elected MP for Castle Hill told parliament in 2011 in his inaugural speech. “We have been a team from the start and will be a team to the finish.”It’s highly unlikely that the once-formidable Charlie-and-Dom team, as it has long been known, remains intact. Charles, just 13 months younger than Dominic and the one-time “muscle” of the conservative wing of the withering Liberal Party, is a star of a corruption inquiry. He is also a liar by his own admission.Charles, Dominic and Jean-Claude Perrottet.Former premier Dominic, meanwhile, is in Washington DC with his large family, working for BHP after a dignified loss in the 2023 state election. Time was against Perrottet, as were some shockingly ill-disciplined members of his team, when he attempted to convince voters to give the Coalition another four years in power.9.09amMajor changes to the witness listBy Jessica McSweeneyICAC public hearings can be unpredictable things, with witness lists often chopping and changing at short notice.The corruption inquiry was meant to be moving on to Jeremy Greenwood today, but yesterday we were told the corruption inquiry has requested Charles Perrottet delay his return to his Melbourne home even longer. Perrottet will now give evidence before the ICAC today and Friday.Charles Perrottet will see out the rest of the week at the ICAC.Sitthixay DitthavongPerrottet was sworn in last Friday afternoon, and was originally listed to conclude his evidence on Tuesday.Jean Nassif, who sensationally was scheduled to appear via video link from Lebanon on Friday has asked to delay his evidence because of illness, providing a sick note to the ICAC.9.09amWelcome to today’s live coverageBy Jessica McSweeneyWelcome back to the Herald’s live coverage of the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s Operation Rosny public hearings. I’m state political reporter Jessica McSweeney, and I’ll be bringing you all the latest updates as Charles Perrottet takes to the witness box for another day of evidence. Before the hearing begins, let’s take a look at what we covered on Tuesday:Charles Perrottet has told the corruption inquiry that promises he made to Jean Nassif regarding political outcomes were lies, and a way to “humour” the developer so that he would pay money owed Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis’s company Beckington.Perrottet met Nassif for dinner at Melbourne’s Nobu in 2021, and later messaged Toplace lawyer Sharangan Maheswaran: “I told Jean that the best way to get the building commissioner off his back is to take the fight to [David] Elliott and dismantle his infrastructure. If we can get 189 and Garthowen payments, we can take Parra, Hills, Cumberland councils, and the seat of Castle Hill and completely isolate him. As a result, he’ll be on his knees.” The ICAC heard “189 and Garthowen” were references to developments that Beckington was contracted to assist with. Perrottet said he was lying in that text, and told the ICAC that he never asked for payments for political outcomes.Perrottet was asked if his wife Anita lied to the corruption inquiry about payments she received for his advice to benefit Toplace. She told the ICAC her husband never did any work for her company, but Charles Perrottet gave evidence that in fact her payments from Beckington did include remuneration relating to advice he gave to assist Nassif’s developments. Perrottet said Anita didn’t lie, and that he wasn’t sure how much he disclosed to her about the arrangement.Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer, SC, said she was “gobsmacked, genuinely” by Perrottet’s evidence, and accused him of fabricating evidence throughout the public hearing. He strongly denied this.You can watch the hearing live stream here.1 of 1