Jessica McSweeneyUpdated September 3, 2026 — 4:53pm,first published September 3, 2026 — 9:09am4.53pm on Sep 3, 2026What we covered todayBy Jessica McSweeneyThe hearing has adjourned and Charles Perrottet will return to the ICAC tomorrow for what we’re expecting to be his final day of evidence.Before then, let’s recap what we covered today:Charles Perrottet can’t remember how he obtained three secret audio recordings of his factional nemesis David Elliott, which were sent to former Liberal MP Nathaniel Smith, Christian Ellis, Toplace private investigator Shane De Kauwe and former chief of staff to Anthony Roberts, Chris Spence.Perrottet sent the recording to others with the hopes of cleaning up the files to hear what Elliott says, the corruption inquiry heard. The audio was sent just days before his brother Dominic became premier.Charles Perrottet brushed off phone tap recordings of Jean Nassif bragging about influence he had in the government, including believing the premier was his best friend, as “bravado”.Perrottet would often lie to Nassif and add “political flavour” to their conversations to encourage him to pay bills to Beckington, the company of Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis. Perrottet insisted the large payments were for genuine consulting work.Perrottet texted Nassif’s offsider after a dinner he had at Nobu Melbourne with the developer saying: “I told Jean though that the best way to get the building commissioner off his back is to take the fight to Elliot 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.” Perrottet said he couldn’t remember what he actually told Nassif.4.37pm on Sep 3, 2026Private investigator, former MP sent secret recordingsBy Jessica McSweeneyCharles Perrottet is still being questioned about secret recordings he possessed of factional enemy David Elliott.Texts between Christian Ellis and Perrottet read to the commission show that Nathaniel Smith, a former Liberal MP, also came to possess the audio.Other texts between Ellis and Shane De Kauwe, a private investigator engaged by Toplace, showed he was helping Ellis clean up the audio. The recordings were mentioned in early ICAC evidence when Chris Spence, former chief of staff to Anthony Roberts, said Perrottet had sent them to him.Perrottet said he could not remember how he originally got the audio files.4.16pm on Sep 3, 2026Charles Perrottet had covert recordings of David ElliottBy Jessica McSweeneyCharles Perrottet said he isn’t sure how he came to possess covertly recorded audio filed of David Elliott around the time his brother was on the cusp of becoming premier.“I had no recollection of these until now,” he said.David Elliott is not accused of any wrongdoing.Peter RaeAn audio was played to the commission, but words spoken were faint and difficult to hear over a rhythmic sound which Peggy Dwyer, SC, suggested was actually a heartbeat “that suggests a recording device”.Perrottet said he did not know who gave him the audio files and who he sent them to. He suggested the audio could have come from a pocket dial.“Have you had a conversation with somebody else about putting forward the idea that it’s a pocket dial?” Dwyer asked.Perrottet said he had not.4.04pm on Sep 3, 2026Christian Ellis, Charles Perrottet discussed leaking David Elliott affair claims By Jessica McSweeneyChristian Ellis sent Charles Perrottet a statutory declaration with unfounded claims suggesting David Elliott was having an affair around the time Dominic Perrottet was becoming premier, the ICAC has heard.Charles Perrottet was shown text messages he exchanged with Ellis while the right faction were crunching the numbers for support for his brother.Perrottet told Ellis he believed his brother should sack Elliott from the ministry, and said Dominic blamed Charles for losing Elliott’s support because of the factional work he was doing in the Hills.Ellis then sent Charles Perrottet the text contents of a statutory declaration he wanted to run in the media, suggesting Elliott was having an affair.“It’s trying to smear him by suggesting that he was having an affair, clearly, isn’t it?” Peggy Dwyer, SC, asked.“Yes,” Perrottet said.David Elliott previously gave evidence before the inquiry that the affair claims were untrue.3.34pm on Sep 3, 2026‘Bravado’: Jean Nassif claimed to be premier Dominic Perrottet’s ‘best friend’By Jessica McSweeneyCharles Perrottet has been played another phone tap, this time between Jean Nassif and an associate, the day after Dominic Perrottet was announced as premier.“The premier is my best friend,” Nassif said.Jean Nassif is a person of interest in this inquiry.InstagramHis associate asks if Nassif might put in a good word for him with the government and Nassif replies: “I will fix it up completely but give me time. Give me a couple of weeks for the government to form.”Charles Perrottet told the ICAC that Nassif claims in the recording were far-fetched. Peggy Dwyer, SC, reminded him of the text he sent Sharangan Maheswaran saying Nassif should make payments to Beckington if he wanted to get the building commissioner off his back and isolate David Elliott.“Little wonder, can I suggest to you, that Jean Nassif thought he had the right (faction) in his pocket immediately after your brother got the premiership,” Dwyer said.“I think it’s just bravado, he says he’s the premier’s best friend,” Perrottet said.3.23pm on Sep 3, 2026Perrottet played phone tap recordings between brother Jean-Claude, NassifBy Jessica McSweeneyCharles Perrottet has been played a phone tap recording between his brother Jean-Claude and Jean Nassif speaking about the property developer’s complaints about the building commissioner and David Elliot.“I f---ed him sideway, I forced the boys … to get rid of his branch at Baulkham Hills,” Nassif said in the recording, about Elliott.Jean-Claude Perrottet gave evidence last month. Dominic LorrimerJean-Claude Perrottet thanked Nassif for his support for his family.Charles Perrottet dismissed the claims in the phone call as just “bravado” from the property developer.2.58pm on Sep 3, 2026‘Thank you for your support’: Perrottet shown more text messagesBy Jessica McSweeneyPeggy Dwyer, SC, has asked Perrottet why he sent Nassif a message thanking him for his support and giving him political updates just days after Beckington received a large payment from Nassif. Perrottet denied the text was in thanks for Nassif paying money for political outcomes. “Thank you for your support is something I would say to everyone that I ever spoke to. It’s a way in politics to continue to keep people on side,” Perrottet said. Perrottet was then taken to a text message he sent to Sharangan Maheswaran, Nassif’s offsider at Toplace. “He (Nassif) is blaming his issues with the building commissioner on aligning with us. We need to remind him that it was his fallout with Elliot that got us together, so that had already happened. Working together didn’t create that issue,” Perrottet’s text said. By working together, he meant maintaining their relationship, Perrottet told the ICAC. 2.44pm on Sep 3, 2026 Charles Perrottet quizzed on his knowledge of donation lawsBy Jessica McSweeneyCounsel assisting Peggy Dwyer, SC, has reminded Charles Perrottet that he has given evidence before the ICAC previously, and therefore knows the type of conduct that might land someone in front of the commission.“You know, don’t you, the gravity of an accusation that someone is being paid by a property developer to secure political outcomes?” Dwyer asked.Charles Perrottet, left, outside the ICAC on Tuesday.AAPIMAGEPerrottet said he believed there was no issue with developers becoming members of political parties, and he believed if a developer wanted to increase the number of members in a party they were able to do that under NSW laws.“So you’re saying it’s fine for Jean Nassif to pay money to assist with political parties recruiting?” Dwyer asked.“If a property developer in NSW wanted to increase the membership of any political party, I think they can do that,” Perrottet said.2.27pm on Sep 3, 2026‘Any action I took in the party wasn’t at the behest of Jean Nassif’By Jessica McSweeneyCharles Perrottet is again telling the ICAC that political updates he gave to Jean Nassif when chasing payments were to make the property developer think he had influence in Liberal Party politics, but not for any actual political outcomes.“You say you want the commission to accept that you were just putting a political flavour on the payments from Jean Nassif, but not actually doing anything of a political nature is that right?” counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer, SC, asked.“I was definitely politically involved, but … any action I took in the party wasn’t at the behest of Jean Nassif,” Perrottet said.1.28pm on Sep 3, 2026‘Charles is just going to cut the relationship’: Greenwood text to Nassif offsiderBy Jessica McSweeneyJeremy Greenwood told Jean Nassif’s offsider that that Charles Perrottet would “cut the relationship” with the developer if payments weren’t made.In a text message to Sharangan Maheswaran, Greenwood warned that if certain payments weren’t received that “Charles is just going to cut the relationship”.Jean Nassif and his one-time offsider, Sharangan Maheswaran.Fairfax MediaWhen discussing if Maheswaran should pass on that message, Greenwood asked if Nassif would see that as a threat.“Most certainly, but sometimes JN gives into threats,” Maheswaran said.1 of 2