The New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) has commenced a public inquiry into Operation Rosny, investigating allegations of branch stacking, illegal donations, and interference with preselections within the Liberal party.
Allegations of Developer Influence
On the first day of the inquiry, secret tape recordings were played in which developer Jean Nassif boasted of having "my hands on the state government" and claimed to have ruined the career of a state politician by "taking his seat". Nassif, now a fugitive in Lebanon, also spoke of the building commissioner David Chandler, vowing to "fuck him sideways".
In another call from September 2021, Nassif referred to then premier Gladys Berejiklian as a "fucking bitch", telling Charles Perrottet: "Mate, we thought we're gonna change her."
The Reformers and Sham Payments
Counsel assisting the inquiry, Dr Peggy Dwyer SC, alleged that Nassif used his millions to engage a group of Liberal operatives known as the Reformers as consultants. These young men, she claimed, ran a major branch stacking operation to take over the party and promote a conservative agenda while delivering outcomes for their benefactor.
The Reformers included two of former premier Dominic Perrottet's brothers—Jean-Claude and Charles—and PR firm principals Christian Ellis and Jeremy Greenwood. Dwyer alleged that Ellis and Greenwood received "sham" consultancy payments from Nassif and others between 2019 and 2022, with no real work provided. The payments amounted to $2 million from Nassif, more than $250,000 from the Catholic Schools Association, and $125,000 from lawyer turned publican Michael O'Hara.
Encrypted Messages and Fundraisers
Dwyer revealed that Icac has a large trove of decrypted messages between the young men at the centre of the investigation. The commission also holds evidence of fundraisers featuring high-profile speakers including Damien Tudehope, Tony Abbott, and Alan Jones. Dwyer stressed that these are allegations, not evidence, and that Commissioner Fabian Gleeson SC will determine the nature of the payments and the intentions of those involved.
She urged the public not to get despondent at the sheer scale and breadth of the alleged schemes. However, the inquiry has laid bare an internal ideological war within the Liberal party, with the Reformers' sales pitch aiming to recruit 5,000 members by 2022, take back the party for conservatives, and deliver 75% of NSW parliamentary seats to conservatives by 2023. Their agenda included more conservative policies on same-sex marriage, abortion, and euthanasia.
Broader Implications
Dwyer told the inquiry: "Money in politics as in other spheres has the potential to corrupt." The inquiry may show how corruption infected development decisions, Liberal preselections, and attempts to oust building commissioner David Chandler. Separately, blackmail allegations involving Labor councillors in Strathfield have also emerged from phone taps during Operation Rosny. The inquiry comes at a time of low trust in major parties, which could be further eroded.
