Jessica McSweeneyUpdated August 31, 2026 — 11:11am,first published August 31, 2026 — 9:17amWelcome to week six of public hearingsBy Jessica McSweeneyHello and welcome to the Herald’s live coverage of the ICAC’s Operation Rosny public hearings.I’m state political reporter Jessica McSweeney and along with the Herald’s senior writers, we’ll be bringing you all the news as it happens from the hearing room.Today Charles Perrottet returns to the witness box to answer questions about his relationship with fugitive property developer Jean Nassif.First, let’s take a look at what we covered last week:Anita Perrottet has denied covering for her husband Charles after the ICAC heard evidence she was paid $660,999 in just over two years for her “strategic and marketing advice” but could not produce any written evidence of doing any work. She insisted she was paid what she was worth, and told the ICAC she gave her advice in person, over the phone or via disappearing messages.Anita Perrottet said business expenses showing trips to Sydney were likely times she met with her client Jeremy Greenwood, but she couldn’t recall specifically where they met or what they met about. The ICAC then heard evidence that places not Anita, but her husband Charles as the one taking those trips when he would sometimes meet with Jean Nassif. Perrottet said he would “humour” Nassif because he had an ulterior motive and wanted to extract some information out of him – we expect to hear more about those motives this week.The husband and wife texted about Liberal Party political machinations, and discussed if Charles’s brother Dominic would dump David Elliott from his cabinet as premier. The ICAC is investigating if Charles Perrottet, among others, worked to damage Elliott’s career on behalf of Nassif, who they anticipated receiving a share of $2 million from.Former building commissioner David Chandler said Nassif called him to make the threat: “If you harm my developments, I’ll harm you”. Outside the hearing room Chandler said the home owners left to live in Toplace developments were living in “hell on earth”.You can watch the hearing live stream here.Latest Posts11.11amPerrottet present when $148k cheque exchanged in pub meeting By Jessica McSweeneyCharles Perrottet was present at a meeting at the Longueville Hotel with Toplace lawyer Sharangan Maheswaran, Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis, the ICAC has heard.Perrottet has given evidence today that he was telling Jean Nassif what the developer wanted to hear to help his friends Greenwood and Ellis pursue money they were owed for what he has called genuine work.Anita and Charles Perrottet leave the ICAC on Friday afternoon.Louie DouvisPerrottet said he was present at the Longueville Hotel when Maheswaran passed Greenwood or Ellis a cheque, but said he didn’t ask his friends how much money was on the cheque and said he didn’t know the figure.They met at the pub because it was near his home, Perrottet said, and he needed somewhere nearby to meet as he was flying to Melbourne the next day. When asked if he had a memory of the cheque being handed over to Greenwood or Ellis, Perrottet said he believed that happened.10.47amPeggy Dwyer, SC, pulls no punchesBy Jessica McSweeneyDr Peggy Dwyer, SC, the counsel assisting the ICAC, is on fire this morning with a take-no-prisoners approach to her line of questioning. She is not having a bar of much of Charles Perrottet’s evidence.Some of Dwyer’s comments so far include:“Well, that’s very convenient, Mr Perrottet, but could you please just try and think a little harder?”“That’s the question, Mr Perrottet. I think you heard it the first time.”Senior counsel for the commission Dr Peggy Dwyer, SC.Sam Mooy10.36am‘Mr Perrottet you are tying yourself in knots’By Jessica McSweeneyCharles Perrottet is now being shown a message he sent to Jean Nassif asking if he could meet up to receive assistance from the property developer for a preselection.Perrottet said he was chasing up unpaid money Nassif owed to Beckington, the company run by his Liberal Party allies Christian Ellis and Jeremy Greenwood, and mentioning preselections was a way to lead Nassif to believe his money was being used to support political work.“I think I was trying to describe, you know, how he could be supportive. Like I made it up,” Perrottet said.He would provide political updates to encourage Nassif to pay his bills, Perrottet said, but told the commission that the money wasn’t actually used as political donations.“Mr Perrottet, you are tying yourself in knots to get around obvious messages about you picking up money from Mr Nassif, is that what’s happening?” Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer, SC, said.“I disagree,” Perrottet said.10.24am‘Ultimately I made it up’: Charles Perrottet tells ICAC he would lie to Jean NassifBy Jessica McSweeneyToday’s evidence has opened with questioning about text messages Charles Perrottet exchanges with Jean Nassif.In the texts, Perrottet said he would make some calls for Nassif regarding one of his projects, and told the developer he would meet with a development contact he had to raise concerns on Nassif’s behalf.Charles Perrottet outside the ICAC on Friday.Sam MooyThat contact didn’t exist, Perrottet told the ICAC.“Ultimately, I made it up,” he said.10.04amWatch: Week five, recappedBy Senior writer Alexandra Smith has been following every moment of the Operation Rosny hearings, from the wacky moments in the witness box to the serious allegations of corruption aired before the ICAC. You can watch her recap of week five here:9.16amStop! Stop! She’s already dead! How the ICAC nailed Anita Perrottet’s absurd excusesBy Bevan ShieldsIf you missed his piece this weekend, here’s senior writer Bevan Shields on the meme that summed up Anita Perrottet’s turbulent time in the witness box: There’s a well-known meme from The Simpsons taken from a scene where Homer violently bashes the “Krusty Burglar” during a prank gone wrong. The camera pans to a group of children watching on in horror. One cries and points, pleading: “Stop! Stop! He’s already dead!” The clip has become code for moments when a person is subjected to excruciating degrees of punishment or humiliation.I was reminded of that meme this week while watching Anita Perrottet in the witness box at the Independent Commission Against Corruption. Her evidence was so thoroughly unconvincing, and the corruption watchdog’s case against her so comprehensive, that it was tempting for a brief moment to feel sorry for the mother of two.The famous meme from an episode of The Simpsons.However, the sheer volume of implausible claims uttered while twisting and contorting her way through a two-day appearance ultimately made it difficult to have much sympathy.9.16amThe witness list for week sixBy Jessica McSweeneyThe ICAC returns for another blockbuster week of evidence with the most anticipated witness left for Friday – fugitive property developer Jean Nassif. Nassif will appear via video link as he continues to avoid returning home to Australia, where police are seeking him on serious fraud allegations. Here’s the full witness list: Monday: Charles PerrottetTuesday: Charles Perrottet Pinned post from 9.16amWelcome to week six of public hearingsBy Jessica McSweeneyHello and welcome to the Herald’s live coverage of the ICAC’s Operation Rosny public hearings.I’m state political reporter Jessica McSweeney and along with the Herald’s senior writers, we’ll be bringing you all the news as it happens from the hearing room.Today Charles Perrottet returns to the witness box to answer questions about his relationship with fugitive property developer Jean Nassif.First, let’s take a look at what we covered last week:Anita Perrottet has denied covering for her husband Charles after the ICAC heard evidence she was paid $660,999 in just over two years for her “strategic and marketing advice” but could not produce any written evidence of doing any work. She insisted she was paid what she was worth, and told the ICAC she gave her advice in person, over the phone or via disappearing messages.Anita Perrottet said business expenses showing trips to Sydney were likely times she met with her client Jeremy Greenwood, but she couldn’t recall specifically where they met or what they met about. The ICAC then heard evidence that places not Anita, but her husband Charles as the one taking those trips when he would sometimes meet with Jean Nassif. Perrottet said he would “humour” Nassif because he had an ulterior motive and wanted to extract some information out of him – we expect to hear more about those motives this week.The husband and wife texted about Liberal Party political machinations, and discussed if Charles’s brother Dominic would dump David Elliott from his cabinet as premier. The ICAC is investigating if Charles Perrottet, among others, worked to damage Elliott’s career on behalf of Nassif, who they anticipated receiving a share of $2 million from.Former building commissioner David Chandler said Nassif called him to make the threat: “If you harm my developments, I’ll harm you”. Outside the hearing room Chandler said the home owners left to live in Toplace developments were living in “hell on earth”.You can watch the hearing live stream here.1 of 1