ICAC inquiry: Consultant wife of key figure paid $660k for 16 hours' work weekly

An inquiry by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in New South Wales is examining substantial payments made to Anita Perrottet, the wife of Charles Perrottet, a member of the influential NSW Reformers Liberal faction. Ms. Perrottet reportedly received over $660,000 across a two-and-a-half-year period, during which she allegedly worked an average of just 16 hours per week.

The ICAC is investigating allegations that prohibited political donations were channeled through third parties to support the NSW Reformers faction. This faction is reportedly linked to developer Jean Nassif, founder of Toplace, and the inquiry aims to determine if these payments were used to advance his interests.

“

That's an enormous amount of money to be paid for circumstances where you cannot produce a scrap of evidence in relation to work done.

Ms. Perrottet was paid by companies associated with lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood, including Beckington and JPG Advisory. Counsel assisting the inquiry, Peggy Dwyer, questioned the legitimacy of the payments, stating, "That's an enormous amount of money to be paid for circumstances where you cannot produce a scrap of evidence in relation to work done."

Ms. Perrottet maintained that she was compensated for her perceived value, with Mr. Greenwood viewing her as a "huge value-add." The commission is also scrutinizing payments made to her company, Macquarie Consulting, to ascertain if they represented genuine consulting work or were a means to disguise funds allegedly intended for Charles Perrottet. Ms. Perrottet stated she believed she was paid what she was worth.

“

I believed I was paid what I was worth and Mr Greenwood saw me as a 'huge value-add'.