Jean-Claude Perrottet, Christian Ellis asked for $50k to unseat Alex Hawke, inquiry told

An inquiry has been told of a meeting in which the NSW Premier’s brother asked for $50,000 to help unseat a senior Liberal MP.

Two senior Liberal members, including Dominic Perrottet’s younger brother, Jean-Claude Perrottet, asked a Sydney businessman for $50,000 to unseat longtime Liberal MP, Alex Hawke in an alleged branch stacking attempt, an inquiry has heard.

Appearing at the upper house inquiry into allegations of impropriety against the Hills Shire Council, Sydney businessman Frits Maré said the 10 to 15-minute meeting with Liberal powerbrokers Jean-Claude Perrottet and Christian Ellis took place in about 2019.

Jean-Claude and his brother Charles Perrottet, as well as Mr Ellis, have come under fire for ignoring summonses to present evidence, with the committee hiring “professional process servers” to assist with the inquiry.

“They sat down at my office, they told me that they wanted to unseat a sitting member of parliament, the federal member of Mitchell, and that they were raising money for that and they thought I’d be a prime candidate to contribute to that,” Mr Maré told the committee on Wednesday.

“They said because I was friendly with a previous prime minister who got unseated and that Alex Hawke was one of the people who had the numbers to unseat him in parliament, therefore I should help revenge that.

“One suggestion was for a call centre to contact people who might be sympathetic to that idea.”

Sydney businessman Frits Maré said he was asked to contribute $50,000 by Jean-Claude Perrottet and Christian Ellis. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Andrew Henshaw

In a text sent to Mr Maré, and shared with the inquiry, an associate claims the $50,000 would have been used to “supplement their incomes”.

“Still can’t believe that approach to you by Christian Ellis and JC Perrottet. Was thinking, $50k would stack more than Alex Hawke’s seat. I reckon it would actually ne (sic) to supplement their incomes. I understand Ellis has been buying up property.”

A text sent to Sydney businessman, Frits Mare. Picture: NSW Parliament.

While Mr Maré admitted he was “surprised” by Mr Ellis’ and Jean-Claude’s proposition, and declined the offer before he was told what “involvement” his contribution would entail.

Mr Hawke, a close ally of former prime minister Scott Morrison, would go on to retain the northwest Sydney seat that he has held since 2007.

“The member, whatever I may think of him, was elected by the voters and it’s up to them to unseat him, not me,” Mr Maré said.

“I never saw Christian Ellis or Jean-Claude Perrottet again.”

While giving evidence, Mr Maré specified at no point did Mr Ellis or Jean-Claude mention the Hills Shire Council during their conversation.

“I wrote to the committee to say that it is a fishing expedition, but I’ll co-operate in the interest of what you want to find out, but I’m not here to dob people in. I can only answer questions,” Mr Maré added.

Alex Hawke was known as an ally of former prime minister Scott Morrison. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

‘A VERY SERIOUS MATTER’

Speaking after Wednesday’s hearing, Labor Upper House Leader Penny Sharpe said the committee’s attempt to summon Jean-Claude and Charles Perrottet, Mr Ellis and his mother and Hills Shire Councillor Virginia Ellis is “unprecedented”.

If the summons continue to be ignored, the witnesses could face court.

“The issuing of a summons under the parliamentary Evidence Act is a very serious matter and isn’t done lightly,” she said.

Fellow Labor committee member John Graham pointed towards a Liberal party faction called the Reformers, who he said was allegedly founded by Mr Ellis.

“The concern that’s been raised with the opposition is that this is the work of a shadowy group inside the Liberal Party, the Reformers,” he said.

Ms Sharpe said the inquiry will continue to investigate claims of branch stacking.

The inquiry will continue on Thursday and hear from former Hills Shire Council mayor Michelle Byrne.

The public hearings are investigating the “role and influence of developers” on councillors and MPs at the Hills Shire Council.

On Tuesday, committee chair and Greens upper house member Sue Higginson said “multiple attempts” had been made to summon Virginia Ellis, Christian Ellis, Jean-Claude Perrottet and Charles Perrottet, who is believed to be out of the state during the inquiry.

The younger brother of Dominic Perrottet, Charles Perrottet. Picture: Supplied

Ms Higginson said the committee had engaged “professional process servers” to find the witnesses and serve the summonses so they could give evidence.

“Parliamentary staff have since made multiple attempts to personally serve the summons on these individuals but have been unsuccessful,” she said.

“As none of these witnesses has come forward, I can only reach the conclusion that they are making a deliberate decision to avoid appearing before the committee.

“The failure to co-operate with this committee demonstrates a blatant disregard of parliamentary process.”

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the Premier said he had not spoken to his brothers and accused Greens and Labor of “playing politics”.

Dominic Perrottet accused Labor and Greens of ‘playing politics’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tim Hunter

The investigation was sparked in 2022 after Liberal MP Ray Williams used parliamentary privilege to claim that senior Liberal Party members had been “supported financially” by developer Jean Nassif to install councillors who would help push through development applications lodged by Toplace.

Mr Nassif has wholly denied the claims and said he would not be able to appear before the inquiry because he was “in a remote part of Lebanon and am recuperating from a medical procedure”.

Originally published as Jean-Claude Perrottet, Christian Ellis asked for $50k to unseat Alex Hawke, inquiry told