Jessica McSweeneyUpdated August 24, 2026 — 11:26am,first published August 24, 2026 — 9:02am11.26amChris Spence on Dylan Whitelaw: ‘Untrustworthy, lying’By Jessica McSweeneyChris Spence has unloaded on his former staffer Dylan Whitelaw, who he has accused of taking inappropriate meetings with developers and “gaslighting” his office when both men worked for then planning minister Anthony Roberts.Whitelaw was one of the first witnesses to give evidence in this inquiry. Whitelaw at different times also worked for Catholic Schools NSW and for Beckington Group, the government relations firm run by Christian Ellis and Jeremy Greenwood.Dylan Whitelaw outside the ICAC.Sam MooyWhitelaw was also a key member of the Reformers, the religious right-wing factional group working to install more conservatives in the Liberal Party.Spence told the commission he believes Whitelaw “gaslit” the entire office when he worked for Roberts.11.07amSpence on Charles Perrottet rift: ‘I guess we’re going to find out today’By Jessica McSweeneyChris Spence hesitated before saying he still considered Charles Perrottet a friend, but told the ICAC he hadn’t spoken to his friend in at least two years. Counsel assisting Juliet Curtin asked if he still called Perrottet a friend despite the lack of recent contact because there was to his knowledge, no rift between the two men. Chris Spence gives evidence at the ICAC.ICAC“I guess we’re going to find out today,” Spence said. The commission has heard this morning that Charles Perrottet was considered by some a conduit to his brother, Dominic Perrottet. Spence said Charles would at times become frustrated when others in the party would contact him when they couldn’t get hold of his brother Dominic when he became premier. “Others would ring and complain and complain and complain, and Charlie would get frustrated not only at them, but also the fact that he just sometimes couldn’t talk to his brother,” Spence said. 10.52amSpence questioned on relationship with Charles PerrottetBy Jessica McSweeneyCounsel assisting Juliet Curtin is asking Chris Spence about his relationship with Charles Perrottet, a person of interest in this inquiry. Spence said the pair had a friendly relationship. Curtin asked if Perrottet had influence in the Liberal Party. “He was respected, very well respected, and intelligent,” Spence said. “He was quite good at strategy, so I guess he sort of just developed that sort of role and that I guess acknowledgement of those around that he was, you know, he was very good.”10.11amSlow start to week fiveBy Jessica McSweeneyWe’re beginning a few minutes behind schedule, but Chris Spence has now taken his seat in the witness box.There have been some technical issues with the livestream, so before Spence was able to be sworn in the commission adjourned again for five minutes.9.02amDark arts and dirty tricks: How the ghosts of ICACs past haunt LibsBy Kate McClymontAs the commission comes to evidence from Chris Spence, it’s worth taking a look back at this piece from Kate McClymont in week one, when Spence’s name was first mentioned in evidence: A sickening feeling of deja vu from the ghosts of ICAC past is likely to be haunting some Liberal Party figures tuning in to the daily drama of the Operation Rosny corruption inquiry.Chris Spence arriving at ICAC in May 2014. Nic WalkerFor the second day in a row, Dylan Whitelaw, 25, a former member of an ultra-conservative right-wing faction of the party called the Reformers, had difficulty recalling crucial events.When shown a “shit sheet” on then-Liberal police minister David Elliott, which Whitelaw was allegedly involved in compiling, he replied, “It doesn’t refresh my memory. There’s components in there that I have zero recollection of.”9.02amWeek five’s witness listBy Jessica McSweeneyThis week we’ll hear evidence from one of the main alleged victims of a plot to damage the careers of those who stood in the way of Jean Nassif’s developments, and one of the main persons of interests to the ICAC.As we’ve reported this morning, today’s hearing will feature Chris Spence, the former MP and political staffer. The commission has previously heard Spence had multiple conversations with fair trading minister Eleni Petinos and her chief of staff where he pushed negative stories about the building commissioner David Chandler.Former building commissioner David Chandler.Kate GeraghtyThe ICAC won’t sit on Tuesday, but on Wednesday Anita Perrottet, wife of Charles, will be sworn in and asked about invoices she sent to Beckington Group, the company under investigation by the ICAC. Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer said in her opening address she expects the commission to hear evidence that invoices Anita sent to Beckington weren’t for consulting work, but to receive Charles’s cut of funds paid by Nassif.Chandler will take to the witness box on Thursday when he is expected to be asked about the sustained campaign to discredit him, including from figures inside the Liberal Party, allegedly at the behest of Nassif.Charles Perrottet, who is a person of interest to the ICAC, will give evidence on Friday. He is being investigated in connection with allegedly illegal donations made by Nassif to support factional work in the Liberal Party.9.01amWelcome to week fiveBy Jessica McSweeneyHello and welcome to another week of public hearings in the ICAC’s Operation Rosny.I’m state political reporter Jessica McSweeney, and along with the Herald’s senior writers, I’ll be bringing you all the news as it happens in the hearing room today.We’re starting the week with Chris Spence, a former MP and more relevantly to the ICAC today, former chief of staff to Anthony Roberts, who was a minister in Dominic Perrottet’s government.Before we jump in, let’s take a quick look at what we covered last week:Eleni Petinos, fair trading minister in the Perrottet government, told the commission she was disgusted by the thought she was being used in a plot to get former building commissioner David Chandler sacked. She said she suspected Chris Spence leant on his friendship with her to push negative stories about Chandler.The ICAC heard evidence last week that Spence had discussed negative rumours about Chandler with Petinos and her chief of staff, and told them about a video supposedly damaging to Chandler. Chandler would later name Petinos in his resignation letter.Dallas McInerney was sacked as Catholic Schools NSW chief executive by his board after his appearance before the ICAC. McInerney revealed he had performed a factory reset on his phone and iPad after discovering an issue with his banking, but said his bank never asked him to wipe the devices and he didn’t discuss it with his lawyers. He denied suggestions from the counsel assisting that his actions were an attempt to destroy potentially critical evidence.David Elliott, a former MP and enemy of Jean Nassif, told the commission he was subjected to death threats and was followed by a private investigator after he was critical about Nassif’s development projects in his electorate.Elliott said the Liberal Party was taken over by a “cult” when describing the factional power plays at the hands of what he described as the “religious right”. The ICAC is investigating allegations Liberal Party figures solicited unlawful donations, including from Nassif and through bogus contracts with Catholic Schools NSW, to support branch stacking activities to boost conservative numbers in the party.1 of 1