‘Is that news to you?’ Liberal apparatchiks listed as Toplace creditors

Two Liberal Party operatives accused of washing illegal political donations through their companies are listed as creditors wanting to claw back more than $2 million from disgraced developer Jean Nassif, whose company Toplace collapsed in 2023 with debts of at least $1 billion.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption heard on Wednesday that lobby firms run by ex-Liberal powerbroker Christian Ellis and his business partner Jeremy Greenwood are listed as creditors in documents provided to the public inquiry by insolvency firm DVT, the administrators appointed after Toplace folded.

Counsel assisting Dr Peggy Dwyer, SC, told the commission that Beckington, which Ellis and Greenwood co-founded, and JPG Advisory, Greenwood’s firm, appear as creditors in publicly available documents.

Dwyer said Ellis had claimed that Beckington was owed $1,433,000 by Toplace and Greenwood’s company JPG Advisory appears as a creditor owed $721,700.

“Is that news to you?” Dwyer asked Greenwood as he gave his final day of evidence to the commission.

“Yeah, I definitely haven’t put in a form, sorry, it might be those outstanding invoices, but I’ve never submitted anything,” Greenwood said.

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

Greenwood told the commission on Wednesday that the reason for his inconsistent invoicing to Toplace and large-sum payments from Nassif was because of the chaotic way the fugitive property developer did business.

Dwyer had been trying to extract an explanation about why there was no written agreement to show how much Nassif owed Greenwood in outstanding payments.

“You’ve met him now, it’s how Jean does business,” Greenwood said, adding it was “regrettable” that he did not have clearer agreements in writing because Nassif would often take months to pay a retainer.

In an erratic 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 his stalled development projects.

“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 also denied giving “ridiculous” evidence when he told the commission that he paid consultant Anita Perrottet for her advice on deterring children from vaping.

The former Liberal staffer told the commission 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”.

Dwyer 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 … for many years before you say you brought Anita Perrottet on board.”

Greenwood disagreed.

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.

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