ICAC Hears How a Fugitive Developer's Alleged Influence Network Reached Into the NSW Liberal Party

Former NSW Liberal MP and staffer Chris Spence testified at an ICAC public inquiry on 24 August 2026 that Charles Perrottet may have been acting in the interests of fugitive property developer Jean Nassif when Perrottet shared audio recordings with Spence in 2021.

ICAC — the Independent Commission Against Corruption — is New South Wales's anti-corruption watchdog. It has the power to hold public inquiries, compel witnesses to testify, and refer findings for potential prosecution.

Spence, who served as the NSW MP for The Entrance between 2011 and 2015 and as chief of staff to Liberal MP Anthony Roberts from 2019 to 2023, told the commission that Perrottet first contacted him about an alleged extortion attempt. Perrottet asked about a business near Spence's former electorate that had been referenced in messages.

The first audio file, shared in May 2021, allegedly included Nassif speaking to another person about an arrangement where the NSW building commissioner, David Chandler, would give him an occupation certificate for a development in exchange for a large sum of money. An occupation certificate is the official sign-off that a completed building is safe to inhabit and compliant with regulations — a document with significant commercial value for any developer.

The second recording, shared in October 2021, was a secret pocket phone recording purportedly including former NSW Liberal minister David Elliott criticising Dominic Perrottet, who was then NSW premier. Spence testified that Perrottet shared the Elliott recording to ask for Spence's help removing background noise from the audio.

Under questioning from counsel assisting Juliet Curtin, who asked whether the audio file was another example of Perrottet "ventilating dirt about Nassif's adversaries," Spence replied: "upon reflection it would look that way but it was not his view at the time."

Spence described Charles Perrottet as a prominent member of the NSW Liberals' conservative right faction, a characterisation consistent with evidence heard earlier in the inquiry. Factions are organised groupings within a political party that coordinate to influence preselections, leadership, and policy direction.

The commission heard that David Chandler is not named as a person of interest and is not accused of any wrongdoing. Dominic Perrottet is also not named in ICAC's allegations and is not accused of wrongdoing.

The broader investigation, codenamed Operation Rosny, is examining whether Liberal figures including Charles Perrottet took donations from Nassif and his company Toplace in exchange for outcomes such as the removal of Chandler from his role as building commissioner.

The ICAC public inquiry, which commenced on 27 July 2026, forms part of this investigation into possible offences under the Electoral Funding Act and other matters concerning Nassif and Jean-Claude Perrottet, another of former premier Dominic Perrottet's brothers.

The opening address, published on 28 July 2026, stated the commission would hear evidence suggesting Nassif wanted the removal of the old Hills Council and that Charles Perrottet was introduced to Nassif. The inquiry has heard allegations that Nassif sought to use the Perrottet brothers to influence outcomes.

Last week, around 21 August 2026, David Elliott gave evidence that Nassif began targeting him after he opposed Nassif's developments, including a controversial project in Cherrybrook in northern Sydney.

The week before that, former NSW fair trading minister Eleni Petinos told the commission she may have been used by fellow Liberals to remove Chandler from his position.

Earlier in the hearings, Jean-Claude Perrottet was played a phone intercept of him talking to Nassif about Nassif's share investments. Jean-Claude Perrottet also told the inquiry he performed factional duties while working for a Liberal MP.

The testimony from Spence, whose close relationship with Charles Perrottet was discussed in an ICAC transcript dated 20 August 2026, adds to a growing body of evidence about how Nassif allegedly cultivated relationships within the NSW Liberal Party's factional networks.

The broader context here is about patterns. The sequence of recordings shared by Perrottet — from the alleged Chandler bribery discussion to the Elliott criticism — suggests a pattern of information circulation that counsel assisting has framed as targeting individuals perceived as obstacles to Nassif's interests. Spence's acknowledgment that the pattern "would look that way" upon reflection, even if he did not perceive it as such at the time, gives the commission a witness effectively conceding the inference the prosecution is building. Whether that inference ultimately holds will depend on evidence yet to be heard.

The inquiry is not sitting on 25 August 2026 and will resume with subsequent witnesses.

ICAC's broader institutional role includes corruption prevention education, offering free interactive workshops for NSW public sector agencies covering how corruption occurs, where opportunities exist, and how it can be prevented, detected, and addressed, alongside conferences, outreach programs, and senior executive courses.