Search for Premier’s brother, other missing witnesses spans multiple days

Two agencies hired by a parliamentary inquiry to track down three missing witnesses have travelled more than 1900km in a lengthy statewide search.

Agents assisting with the statewide search for three witnesses, including Dominic Perrottet’s younger brother, revealed they have travelled more than 1900km in an investigation which has spanned multiple days.

A NSW parliamentary inquiry into allegations of impropriety within the Hills Shire Council have continued their efforts to locate Liberal powerbrokers Jean-Claude Perrottet and Christian Ellis, and Mr Ellis’ mother and Hills Shire councillor Virginia Ellis, so they can testify.

The committee also attempted to call Charles Perrottet, who is another brother of Mr Perrottet, however he is not required to give evidence as he doesn’t reside in NSW.

This comes as the inquiry’s first hearing revealed Jean-Claude and Mr Ellis approached a Sydney businessman for $50,000 to “unseat” Federal MP Alex Hawke via an alleged branch stacking operation.

The inquiry’s initial hearing revealed Christian Ellis and Jean-Claude Perrottet had asked a businessman for $50,000 to ‘unseat’ the MP for Mitchell, Alex Hawke (pictured). Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Documents released by the committee revealed agents from Sharmans Investigations and Process Serving attended three locations to find the Premier’s younger brother.

Servers visited the workplace of Jean-Claude and Mr Ellis, however staff told them Jean-Claude was on leave and “no further information could be identified”.

Two other attempts were made at residential properties. Neighbours of a “large, two-storey” house said they had “never seen that person” when they were shown a photo of Jean-Claude, while a woman living at a “well presented” waterfront home also couldn’t identify the witness.

Multiple attempts were also made to locate Christian Ellis, and Hills Shire councillor Virginia Ellis, who did not attend Tuesday’s council meeting. Agents from Tim Tierney and Associates spent more than seven hours and travelled 1900km trying to locate the mother and the son, including visiting “a number” of businesses, local hotels and a local RSL Club.

Agents were also told Mr Ellis had a “close association” with the Perrottet brothers, with a local advising investigators that “it was a possibility” he was staying at the home of a separate brother, who isn’t Charles or Jean-Claude.

Agents are assisting with the statewide search for three witnesses, including Dominic Perrottet’s younger brother. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

The Premier has faced intense media speculation over the whereabouts of his brothers, as the committee races to summon the witnesses before the March 3 deadline, when the state parliament will be dissolved.

Last week, Mr Perrottet angrily told reporters to: “Leave my family out of it,” and accused Labor and the Greens of “mud slinging” in the month before the election.

However, Labor committee member John Graham maintained that these “are very serious allegations” which were ignited by Liberal MP Ray Williams under parliamentary privilege.

In June of last year, Mr Williams claimed that members of the Liberal party and a former Hills councillor had been “paid significant funds” by developer Jean Nassif to push through development applications.

On Wednesday, Mr Graham took the extraordinary measure of pleading with the community to help the search, telling 9 News, “We’re calling on the public to report their whereabouts.”

Originally published as Search for Premier’s brother, other missing witnesses spans multiple days