‘Mum’s perspective on deterring under-fives from vaping?’: ICAC says evidence is ridiculous

A Liberal Party operative who allegedly shared in a $2 million bribe has denied he gave “ridiculous” evidence when he told a corruption injury that he paid consultant Anita Perrottet for her advice on deterring children from vaping.

Jeremy Greenwood, who ran the lobby firms Beckington and JPG Advisory, told the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Wednesday that it was not relevant that Anita Perrottet’s children were aged under five when he paid her to provide “a mum’s perspective” on kids vaping.

The commission has previously heard there were no emails reflecting any work done by Anita Perrottet for Greenwood, nor any phone records showing direct calls between them, despite Anita being paid $660,000 over two years for “strategic advice”.

The commission is investigating allegations these payments were not for genuine work, but were, in fact, a “bogus arrangement” to wash money going to Charles Perrottet, Anita’s husband, for work he was doing for disgraced developer Jean Nassif. Developers are banned from making political donations in NSW.

Counsel assisting, Dr Peggy Dwyer, SC, asked Greenwood how old Anita Perrottet’s children were when she was paid for her thoughts on deterring children from vaping.

“I don’t know,” Greenwood responded. “I don’t think it’s of relevance.”

Dwyer said Perrottet’s children were aged two and three at the time of her advice.

“Did she give you a mum’s perspective on deterring under fives from vaping?” Dwyer asked.

“No,” Greenwood said.

Dwyer responded: “Your evidence is ridiculous, can I suggest to you, that Anita Perrottet contributed to a debate that had been the subject of professional reports and government pictures for many years before you say you brought Anita Perrottet on board.”

Greenwood disagreed.

Greenwood, his business partner Christian Ellis, and former right-wing powerbroker Charles Perrottet allegedly shared in $2 million from Nassif in return for political outcomes. The ICAC has heard that that money was washed through Beckington, with some being used to pay for Liberal Party recruitment and branch stacking.

In an erratic and times angry appearance, Nassif dialled into the commission from his bedroom in Beirut on Monday and Tuesday, where he maintained that all he wanted from Greenwood and Ellis was their help with stalled projects by his development company, Toplace.

“I was not involved with paying politics to get my projects approved,” Nassif said. “If they did any corrupt work I am not involved with it. I was not aware of it.”

Greenwood has repeatedly maintained that Anita Perrottet gave all her strategic advice verbally. He told the corruption inquiry that it was not standard practice in government relations consulting to keep records of hours worked or specific work done.

The commission heard that, at one point, Macquarie Consulting invoiced for $82,120 for “project consulting fees”, plus GST.

“Isn’t this just a way of you distributing the money that’s come in from Jean Nassif that’s intended for Charles Perrottet?” Dwyer asked.

“No,” Greenwood said.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.