Councillor tells inquiry of alleged stacking plans to overtake regional branch

A councillor has shared a bizarre report of a sighting of a missing Liberal powerbroker, as an inquiry examines claims of misconduct within a NSW council.

A Riverina councillor has detailed an alleged branch stacking operation undertaken by a Liberal powerbroker, who has been unable to be found despite a statewide manhunt currently being conducted by a NSW parliamentary committee.

Edward River councillor Shirlee Burge told an inquiry into allegations of impropriety against agents of the Hills Shire Council and property developers in the region that Liberal powerbroker Christian Ellis and his faction “took over” the Deniliquin branch of the Liberal Party.

Ms Burge told the inquiry about an influx of “new and unusual members” which occurred in 2021 which resulted in multiple long-time members being expelled or threatened with expulsion.

Shirlee Burge gave evidence to the upper house inquiry on Thursday. Picture: NSW Parliament

Ms Burge said that in a meeting with Mr Ellis in 2021, he also indicated he had “connections” to the then-NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, as well as to an unnamed brother, who could help him assist Ms Burge in establishing a new hospital for the area.

“He mentioned he was connected to the Treasurer’s brother and could achieve this via that avenue. I was sceptical,” Ms Burge said.

The inquiry previously heard Mr Ellis and the brother of NSW Premier, Jean-Claude Perrottet, approached another Liberal Party member, Frits Mare, for $50,000 to unseat federal Liberal MP Alex Hawke in 2019. Mr Frits claimed the funds would be used in an alleged branch stacking operation to fund call centres to appeal to members who would be “sympathetic” to the operation.

Mr Ellis and his mother, Hills Shire Councillor Virginia Ellis, have been unable to be located by the upper house committee, despite a statewide search by professional process servers.

When asked for the potential location of Mr Ellis, Ms Burge told the inquiry she believed he was on his large property near Deniliquin. She also mentioned a reported sighting in which Mr Ellis was potentially seen driving a vehicle linked to him, while “wearing a ski mask”.

“The location of his property Bernina backs on to the beautiful red gum forest of the Barmah-Millewa. It’s a large area; people could disappear in there forever if they wanted to,” she told the inquiry.

Ms Burge said Mr Ellis had revealed aspirations to run as a Federal member for Farrer, in the state’s southwest, which has been held by Liberal member Sussan Ley since 2001.

“I suggested he contact the current member and follow them around for 12 months, learning the ropes and getting to know the electorate,” she said.

“He refused and said, I quote: ‘I want it now, I’m not waiting.’

“I also asked him why he didn’t run for state politics and he said: ‘I’m not interested.’”

Ms Burge also referenced an “intimidating” phone call which she received from the Secretary of the Deniliquin branch, in which she was threatened with expulsion. She said the person was “aligned” with Mr Ellis.

The final hearing into the Hills Shire council is coming to a close, as all parliamentary inquiries must finish before NSW parliament is dissolved on Friday.

Hills Shire councillor Virginia Ellis has not appeared in person at the inquiry. Picture: Hills Shire Council

The inquiry originated after Liberal MP Ray Williams alleged under parliamentary privilege that a Hills Shire councillor and senior Liberal Party members had been “paid significant funds” to install councillors who would be supportive of applications put forward by Toplace property developer Jean Nassif.

During the inquiry, committee member John Graham said Mr Ellis once worked for Mr Nassif as a lobbyist.

The committee will table its final report later on Thursday.

During the inquiry, nine witnesses called by the committee have either declined to appear or avoided summons calling them to give evidence.

The witnesses who have not appeared in person before the inquiry include Hills Shire councillor Virginia Ellis, her son Christian, Jeremy Greenwood, Robert Assaf, Jeff Egan, Dylan Whitelaw, Mr Nassif and the Premier’s two brothers, Charles Perrottet and Jean-Claude Perrottet.

While some witnesses gave written evidence, Jean-Claude and Charles declined to participate, with Charles calling the inquiry a “Labor/Greens circus” on the eve of an election. This is despite the committee employing professional servers to find and serve the brothers, alongside Mr and Ms Ellis in a mass statewide search

In a media release shared on Wednesday, committee chair Sue Higginson also made special mention of the Ellises, who servers have been unable to locate.

Ms Higginson said they “have continued to take active steps to deliberately avoid this inquiry”.

Premier Dominic Perrottet accused the inquiry of ‘political mud-slinging’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Asked about the absence of his brothers from the inquiry in recent weeks, the Premier has repeatedly ducked questions and accused the inquiry of “political mud-slinging”. Speaking to reporters on one occasion, he demanded the committee “leave my family out of it”.

Jean-Claude also accused the committee of using taxpayer funds to harass his fiancee and family members, which had taken a “serious toll” on his mental health, The Daily Telegraph reported.

In a letter to the committee, he denied the allegations and confirmed he would not give evidence as he was overseas.

Professional process server reports released by the committee show agents attempted to serve Jean-Claude at two residential addresses and at a workplace he shared with Mr Ellis.

His brother, Charles, also declined to appear before the inquiry. The Victorian resident lashed the committee’s actions as “partisan, ill-informed, speculative and defamatory commentary”.

Charles Perrottet declined to appear at the inquiry, calling it a ‘Labor/Greens circus’.

Labor committee member Penny Sharpe defended the upper house investigation.

“There’s been a lot of very serious material that’s been presented to the inquiry,” she said on Tuesday.

“It’s very important that people come forward so that we can ask questions about that, and we can seek some answers.”

Originally published as Councillor tells inquiry of alleged stacking plans to overtake regional branch