Jeremy Greenwood, a Liberal factional figure, has rejected suggestions he gave “ridiculous” evidence to the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) regarding advice from Dominic Perrottet's sister-in-law, Anita Perrottet, who was paid $660,999 for providing a “mum's perspective” to lobbying clients.
Appearing before Icac on Wednesday, Greenwood dismissed claims that it was irrelevant that Anita Perrottet's children were under five when she advised on vaping among minors. He also denied giving false evidence about her coining the term “zero unnecessary euthanasia,” which appeared in a greyhound industry report years earlier.
Background of the Icac inquiry
Icac is investigating allegations that Greenwood, Charles Perrottet, and Christian Ellis shared $2m in payments between 2020 and 2023 from fugitive developer Jean Nassif or his company Toplace, in exchange for political outcomes. Greenwood and Charles Perrottet have denied the payments were political donations.
Greenwood returned to the commission after Nassif made a video appearance from his Beirut bedroom on Monday and Tuesday, declaring he was “not corrupt.” Counsel assisting, Peggy Dwyer SC, questioned Greenwood about his previous evidence regarding advice Anita Perrottet gave to lobbying firms Beckington and JPG Advisory, both controlled by Greenwood and Ellis.
Dwyer alleged that invoices of $660,999 paid to Anita Perrottet's company, Macquarie Consulting, over two-and-a-half years were actually Charles Perrottet's share of money from Nassif. Anita Perrottet has told the watchdog the payments were for “strategic and marketing advice,” while Charles Perrottet described them as “holistic” payments covering his advice on Nassif's developments and his wife's work.
Disputed evidence on vaping and greyhounds
Greenwood previously told the commission that Anita's advice, for which there is no written evidence, provided a “mum's perspective.” He said she may have coined the term “zero unnecessary euthanasia” for greyhounds and advised on discouraging minors from vaping, including removing flavours like bubblegum and regulating the black market.
On Wednesday, Dwyer took Greenwood to 2017 recommendations by the NSW greyhound industry reform panel, which included the phrase “zero unnecessary euthanasia.” She suggested he had “outsmarted [him]self by coming up with that false evidence when it's clearly a term used in a document years earlier.” Greenwood replied, “I disagree.”
Dwyer also showed Greenwood a submission by Philip Morris to a 2020 senate inquiry referencing measures to regulate the illicit tobacco trade and a 2019 report on preventing youth access to vapes. Greenwood admitted reading the submission, as Philip Morris is a client, but rejected the suggestion it “makes a mockery” of his evidence about Anita Perrottet's advice.
Questioning the 'mum's perspective'
When Dwyer asked how old Anita Perrottet's children were when she provided vaping advice, Greenwood said he did not know and did not think it was relevant. Presiding commissioner Fabian Gleeson intervened, telling Greenwood he was “not here to debate with counsel assisting” but to “answer the question.” Greenwood said, “I presume they're under 10.”
Dwyer noted Anita Perrottet's children were around two and three at the time and asked: “Did she give you a mum's perspective on deterring under-fives from vaping?” Greenwood replied, “No.” Dwyer called his evidence “ridiculous,” suggesting Anita Perrottet contributed to a debate covered by professional reports for years before Greenwood brought her on board. Greenwood disagreed.
Last week, Greenwood acknowledged an arrangement where payments to Macquarie Consulting would also remunerate Charles Perrottet for advice to Nassif. He rejected suggestions he gave false evidence at private hearings between 2023 and 2026 by not mentioning the arrangement. On Wednesday, he said he had never been in a financial arrangement with Charles Perrottet for consulting work, though they had previous arrangements “on a racehorse” and “an old Redfield [college] rugby fantasy football league.” Dwyer called this a “ridiculous response” given his earlier acknowledgment, but Greenwood disagreed.
Ellis moved to the UK earlier this year and is not expected to appear. Dominic Perrottet is not named as a person of interest in Icac's allegations and faces no accusations of wrongdoing. The inquiry continues.
