Independent Commission Against Corruption probe: 'Filthy money' and Fiji trip aired
A lobbyist's explanations for dodging parliamentary scrutiny and ordering a ‘sh*t sheet’ on a politician have dominated a third week of corruption hearings.
Jeremy Greenwood began his testimony at a high-profile corruption probe by distancing himself from the conservative Christian faction at its heart.
As the opening act of week three of the inquiry, the lobbyist and former staffer to Nationals leader Matt Canavan was keen to present himself as a legitimate business operator.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption is examining allegations of illicit political donations and branch-stacking spearheaded by the so-called Reformers group.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.However, Mr Greenwood insisted he had no knowledge of alleged underhanded funding arrangements for the controversial Liberal Party bloc.
“Most of the engagement I had with these guys was at a pub or I’ve been dragged into a group chat,” he told the commission in Sydney on Monday.
Yet as the week played out, messages and emails between Mr Greenwood and Reformers including Jean-Claude Perrottet painted a different picture, according to counsel assisting the Operation Rosny inquiry Peggy Dwyer.
The Perrottet referred to is the younger brother of former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet.
He is also said to be a key Reformers member and their most zealous recruiter of new members to branches where they sought influence.
Ms Dwyer suggested Mr Greenwood had funnelled money from Catholic Schools NSW and elsewhere through his advisory firm, Beckington, to covertly fund the faction’s aim of electing more conservative politicians to parliament.
Mr Greenwood spent most of the week informing the inquiry he couldn’t recall various aspects of the alleged plot and explaining why he appeared to reference it in messages.
In a 2023 text message to Jean-Claude Perrottet, Mr Greenwood said, “Hey, so you know I’m good to you and help you and give you your filthy schools money... “
Mr Perrottet replied: “Don’t put that in writing.”
Ms Dwyer pressed Mr Greenwood on what he had meant by “filthy schools money”, which he dismissed as a stupid joke.
“I’m not getting it, Mr Greenwood,” she told him sternly.
The commission was told a parliamentary inquiry later that year was keen to hear from the younger Perrottet, Mr Greenwood and others.
Its interest centred on claims the Reformers had accepted donations from fugitive property developer Jean Nassif in exchange for political benefit.
Instead of appearing before the forum, Mr Greenwood allegedly paid for Mr Perrottet to fly to Fiji to avoid answering a summons.
Mr Greenwood had recommended he “relax, read a book, (go to the) gym, (drink) beers” and send pictures of his food, the hearing was told on Wednesday.
“It’s something you’ll look back at and laugh about,” he said.
Mr Greenwood also told the commission a “sh.t sheet” he ordered on then-NSW police minister David Elliot was not designed to help Nassif gain political leverage.
Instead, it was something he used to defend himself against attacks he faced from Mr Elliot.
A lawyer for Mr Elliot later established the pair had never actually met.
At this, Mr Greenwood remarked to the hearing: “He’s stalking my mother right now, though, isn’t he? On LinkedIn?”
“You definitely should not have said that, Mr Greenwood,” ICAC Assistant Commissioner Fabian Gleeson SC said.
As the dust settled on Mr Greenwood’s testimony on Thursday, Catholic Schools NSW chief executive Dallas McInerney took the witness stand.
He avoided cameras by arriving and departing the hearing in a tinted car and, once before the commission, shot down suggestions payments he made to Beckington were for anything other than legitimate consultancy work.
While deciding whether to engage the firm regarding certain government matters, Mr McInerney said he reached out to then-treasurer Dominic Perrottet.
The purpose had been to seek his opinion on the then fledgling operation.
Another central figure to the commission’s inquiries, Reformers co-founder Christian Ellis, has moved to London and so far avoided requests to give evidence.
Mr Greenwood said he had been in contact with Mr Ellis and suggested he had been listening in to the inquiry’s live stream.
“If Mr Ellis is listening, the commission waits for his response,” Mr Gleeson said.
