ICAC Hears Charles Perrottet Texted About 'Executing' a Minister's Career Days Before Brother's Rise to NSW Premier
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has heard that Charles Perrottet texted his wife about a plan to damage Liberal minister David Elliott's career in the days before his brother Dominic Perrottet became NSW premier. On 3 October 2021, Charles Perrottet wrote: 'we execute the prick once party room is over' (The Guardian).
The text exchange between Charles Perrottet and his wife Anita Perrottet was read aloud at the Operation Rosny public inquiry on 28 August 2026 by counsel assisting Dr Peggy Dwyer SC. The exchange took place two days before the Liberal party room vote that elected Dominic Perrottet as NSW premier. Anita Perrottet had asked 'Did Dom confirm that he isn't going to give Elliott a ministry?', to which Charles replied it was a call for the next day and that they would 'execute the prick as soon as party room is over' (The Guardian).
Under questioning from Dr Dwyer and presiding Commissioner Fabian Gleeson, Anita Perrottet testified she could not recall the text messages, what Charles might have meant by 'the Elliott stuff', or whether 'we execute the prick' referred to Elliott. She repeatedly rejected suggestions her husband was the 'muscle' in the Liberal conservative right faction or a 'power broker' in the party (The Guardian).
In another text message tendered to the inquiry, Charles Perrottet wrote that Dominic Perrottet 'thanked me for everything, not just this weekend, but the last 20 years to get here. Apologised for the Elliott stuff.' Dominic Perrottet is not named as a person of interest in ICAC's investigation and is not accused of any wrongdoing. Charles Perrottet has previously denied any wrongdoing in connection with the investigation (The Guardian).
ICAC is investigating whether, between 2020 and 2023, figures including Charles Perrottet took prohibited political donations from property developer Jean Nassif and his company Toplace, including for outcomes such as damaging Elliott's career. David Elliott, who was police minister in the Berejiklian government, was subsequently moved to the transport portfolio in a reshuffle. He told the inquiry he was targeted by Nassif due to his opposition to Toplace developments, and retired from politics before the March 2023 NSW election after his seat was abolished and he could not find sufficient support from branches in Castle Hill (The Guardian).
The inquiry heard legally intercepted phone calls featuring Nassif in which he claimed he had 'forced the boys' to get rid of Elliott's seat of Baulkham Hills and had sent 'Castle Hill fucking hundreds of new members' (The Guardian).
Operation Rosny, ICAC's current investigation into the matter, is examining allegations that persons including a Perrottet family member solicited or accepted political donations (ICAC). The public inquiry commenced on 27 July 2026, with its opening address delivered on 28 July 2026 (ICAC). The 27 July transcript records the inquiry will explore evidence that appears to support the allegation that Nassif paid funds to the persons named in the allegations, and that an arrangement Charles Perrottet had reached with the right faction had been instrumental in Elliott losing his seat (ICAC).
Charles Perrottet and Liberal operatives Christian Ellis and Jeremy Greenwood allegedly anticipated receiving $2 million to be distributed evenly between them from Nassif. The commission heard that Anita Perrottet allegedly received Charles Perrottet's share of funds through invoices from her business Macquarie Consulting to lobbying companies Beckington, controlled by Ellis and Greenwood, and JPG Advisory, controlled by Greenwood (The Guardian).
Earlier transcripts from the public inquiry have laid out the scaffolding of the scheme. The 24 August transcript records a witness stating Charles Perrottet was 'not a fan' of Elliott (ICAC). The 11 August transcript records questioning of a witness about asking Mr Whitelaw to prepare a document with bullet points to discredit Elliott (ICAC). The public exhibit list includes a call charge record referencing a Perrottet call to David Elliott on 21 August 2026 (ICAC).
The broader context here is the collision between developer interests and factional power in NSW Liberal politics, a recurring feature of the state's anti-corruption landscape. What Operation Rosny is testing is whether the factional apparatus that elevated a premier was simultaneously monetised to settle a minister's career on behalf of a property developer. The $2 million allegedly anticipated by three operatives, routed through lobbying companies and a consulting business, is the financial skeleton the commission is attempting to hang on the factional body.
For the Perrottet family, the distinction between Dominic, who is cleared of involvement, and Charles, whose texts and alleged financial arrangements are now on the public record, is doing heavy lifting. Anita Perrottet's insistence that her husband was neither factional 'muscle' nor 'power broker' sits awkwardly against texts in which he discusses the execution of a minister's career with the Premier-to-be's gratitude and apology fresh in the conversation. The claim of no recollection is a standard defensive posture in ICAC hearings, but it rarely survives sustained examination when documentary evidence is this specific. Whether that firewall holds is a question the remaining days of the public inquiry will pressure.
