Developer Jean Nassif bragged he was best friends with a premier and had his hand on a state government after a right-wing Liberal Party faction courted him.
Charles Perrottet, a key member of the faction and brother of former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet, gave a fourth day of evidence to the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Thursday.
A recorded phone call between Nassif and an associate in October 2021, shortly after Dominic Perrottet became premier and in which the developer boasted of being able to influence government and hand-pick ministers, was played to the commission.
“The premier is my best friend,” Nassif said in the call.
“I've got my hand on the state government, and you're gonna see changes.”
Nassif claimed he could get then-building commissioner David Chandler sacked for investigating his developments for potential defects.
"I'm gonna step on his neck and strip him from his job," Nassif says in the recording.
Counsel assisting the inquiry Peggy Dwyer suggested Nassif's comments were based on various exchanges and conversations he had with Charles Perrottet.
Charles Perrottet dismissed Nassif's claims, calling them “far-fetched”.
“I think it’s just bravado,” he told the inquiry.
Dominic Perrottet is not accused of any wrongdoing and has previously welcomed the commission's investigation.
Nassif has since fled Australia to his home country of Lebanon, with NSW police issuing a warrant for his arrest over allegations of fraud.
In an earlier call in September 2021 with the Perrottets' younger brother, Jean-Claude, which was also played to the commission, Nassif bragged about influencing politics enough to impact then police minister David Elliott.
"I f***ed him sideways. I forced the boys to get rid of his branch at Baulkham Hills, and I sent Castle Hill hundreds of new members," Nassif said.
"I appreciate all the support for the family as well, Jean. It's making a difference," Jean-Claude replied.
Mr Perrottet agreed the "boys" Nassif was likely referring to were himself and Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis, close associates and co-owners of consultancy firm Beckington.
Nassif was a client of Beckington and paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to the firm for what Mr Perrottet suggested to him was helping the right-wing faction gain influence.
Mr Perrottet denied he ever received money from Nassif in exchange for political outcomes, saying he would add "political flavour" to their conversations to encourage him to keep paying Beckington.
“He may have believed that he was influential,” Mr Perrottet told the commission.
“He didn’t force anyone to do anything.”
ICAC is investigating allegations Liberal Party operatives, including Charles Perrottet, sought cash from Nassif in exchange for political outcomes.
It is also investigating allegations prohibited political donations were funnelled through third parties to support a Christian right-wing faction of the Liberal Party, known as the Reformers.
In May 2021, Mr Perrottet and Nassif dined together at Melbourne's Nobu restaurant, where Nassif raised Mr Elliott opposing his developments, the commission was told.
Soon after, Mr Perrottet messaged Nassif's lawyer and Toplace executive Sharangan Maheswaran, relaying what occurred.
“I told Jean the best way to get the building commissioner off his back is to take the fight to Elliot and dismantle his infrastructure," Mr Perrottet wrote in the message.
"He will be on his knees."
Dr Dwyer suggested Mr Perrottet and Nassif had an overlapping interest in getting rid of Mr Elliot and suggested the developer made payments to help remove him.
Mr Perrottet said he might have been lying in the message about what was discussed at the dinner and denied asking for money in exchange for political outcomes.
He said he aimed to give Nassif the impression of the right faction's "ascendancy" in Sydney's Hills district to encourage him to keep paying for work being done by a consultancy firm owned by Mr Perrottet's close associates.
