New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet launched the Liberals’ campaign for next week’s state election surrounded by his wife Helen and their seven children on Sunday.
It was the kind of ‘family man’ image he has thrived on since becoming prime minister in October 2021 after his predecessor Gladys Berejiklian resigned due to a corruption investigation.
But there was a big problem with the prime minister’s campaign photo: it was the opposite of what he said last month, when he warned the media and a New South Wales Parliament inquiry to “leave my family out of it.”
The prime minister was furious earlier this month when asked why two of his brothers, Jean-Claude and Charles, did not show up for an inquiry into the Liberal branch’s attempted stacking and an alleged offer of $50,000 to remove a Liberal Federal MP.
New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet launched the Liberals’ campaign for next week’s state election surrounded by his wife Helen and seven children on Sunday, but there was a big problem.
Dominic Perrottet warned the media to “leave my family out of this” when asked why two of his brothers did not show up for an investigation into the liberal branch’s attempted stacking and an alleged $50,000 offer to impeach to a Liberal Federal MP. Jean-Claude Perrottet, who was the subject of a statewide search for a subpoena to appear at the inquest, is shown on the left.
Charles Perrottet wrote to the inquest saying that since he no longer lived in NSW he was not required to give evidence.
I decline your invitation. I am a resident of Victoria. I have been residing in Victoria since January 2021,’ she wrote.
Meanwhile, Jean-Claude disappeared for a month while summons servers searched for him in NSW to try to get him to turn up.
Because he was not found before the investigation was finished, due to the state election on March 25, he avoided giving evidence at the Hills Shire Council inquiry.
The inquiry was sparked by claims made under parliamentary privilege by Liberal State MP Ray Williams about deals between party agents and developers.
He claimed that members of the Liberal Party had been paid to install new councilors on the council for the benefit of a development company called Toplace.
Jean-Claude Perrottet was finally located last Tuesday morning by a Channel Nine TV team, hiding in a relative’s house.
When asked where he had been, a surprised Perrottet said that he had been “abroad”.
However, he did not respond when asked, “Why did you try to dodge (the query)?”
The parliamentary committee said the absence of Perrottet and Liberal leader Christian Ellis was the most committed, serious and coordinated evasion it has ever seen.
His final report recommended that a new inquiry be set up after the election, and that it should call Jean-Claude Perrottet, Charles Perrottet, Christian Ellis, and Toplace director Jean Nassif to give testimony.
Mr. Nassif is currently in Lebanon. Her glamorous lawyer daughter, Ashlyn Nassif, 27, recently faced Sydney’s Downing Town Center Local Court on fraud charges after four family properties were raided, including her father’s home and office.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (centre) is pictured with his wife Helen (holding baby Celeste) campaigning ahead of the March 25 election.
After initially warning the media to “leave my family out of this” and refusing to answer questions, Prime Minister Perrottet eventually announced an internal Liberal Party inquiry into the claims.
“The organization’s state director is looking into these matters,” he said.
‘And as I’ve said, if someone has done something wrong, appropriate action should be taken, the book should be thrown at them.’
While campaigning last Tuesday, Perrottet was asked again if he did not know where his brother had been.
He simply replied, ‘That’s right.’
The prime minister had previously blamed Labor and the Greens for orchestrating the inquiry to embarrass him ahead of the election.
Ashlyn Nassif, 27, faced Sydney’s Downing Center Local Court on charges of fraud after four family properties were raided, including her father Jean’s home and office.