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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Wife of key figure in ICAC probe paid $254k for three months of work

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • The NSW corruption watchdog is investigating payments made to Anita Perrottet, wife of a key figure in the NSW Reformers faction.
  • Ms. Perrottet's company received $254,666 for three months of consulting work in 2022, a sum challenged by the commission.
  • The ICAC is examining whether these payments were legitimate consulting fees or a way to disguise funds intended for her husband.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in New South Wales is scrutinizing substantial payments made to Anita Perrottet, wife of Charles Perrottet, a prominent member of the Liberal-aligned NSW Reformers faction. Ms. Perrottet's company, Macquarie Consulting, reportedly received $254,666 for just three months of consulting work in 2022.

That's based on a salary of $1 million, Mrs Perrottet … let's get serious.

— Peggy Dwyer SCCounsel assisting the commission, Peggy Dwyer SC, questioned the scale of payments made to Anita Perrottet.

ICAC is investigating allegations that prohibited political donations were channeled through third parties to support the NSW Reformers and benefit fugitive property developer Jean Nassif. The commission is specifically examining payments made to Ms. Perrottet's company by lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood's businesses, Beckington and JPG Advisory. The core question is whether these payments represented genuine consulting services or were a means to disguise funds allegedly intended for Charles Perrottet.

Counsel assisting the commission, Peggy Dwyer SC, directly challenged the legitimacy of the payments, highlighting that the amount equates to an annual salary of $1 million. Dwyer questioned whether the commission should accept Ms. Perrottet's testimony that she was entitled to charge such a sum for providing "an oral sounding board or advice" to Mr. Greenwood during that quarter.

You are giving evidence under oath … Do you seriously suggest that the commission should accept that as truthful evidence that you were entitled to charge $254,666 for work that you actually did … providing an oral sounding board or advice to Jeremy Greenwood for that quarter?

— Peggy Dwyer SCPeggy Dwyer SC challenged Anita Perrottet's claim regarding the value of her consulting work.

Ms. Perrottet maintained her evidence was truthful, also stating she received a $10,000 monthly retainer from Beckington without a formal agreement. She described her work as primarily conversational, conducted through phone calls or in-person meetings with Mr. Greenwood. However, the commission has found no evidence of phone calls between them during the relevant periods. Ms. Perrottet struggled to recall specific clients or details of meetings, leading Dr. Dwyer to question if the work had actually occurred.

Are you struggling to remember because it actually didn't happen?

— Peggy Dwyer SCPeggy Dwyer SC pressed Anita Perrottet on her inability to recall details of her work and meetings.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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