Guests at Dominic Perrottet’s 21st say he offered to take off his Nazi costume

Dominic Perrottet quickly realised his ‘terrible mistake’ of wearing a Nazi costume to his 21st birthday party, with one guest recalling he offered to take it off during the event.

Dominic Perrottet realised his “terrible mistake” of having chosen a Nazi costume to wear to his 21st party on the night, with one guest recalling how he had offered to take it off during the event.

The offer by Mr Perrottet was made to one of his Jewish friends who had turned up to the 2003 shindig, a source ­recalled last night.

Sources recalled Anthony Orkin, who was friends with the Premier, was at the function.

Dominic Perrottet is quizzed about his costume choice for the second day, while making an announcement with Health Minister Brad Hazzard. Picture: Jeremy Piper

When asked about the reaction to his outfit and if the now-Premier offered to take the costume off, Mr Perrottet’s office referred to comments he made on Thursday that he did not remember exactly who was at his 21st.

Sources at the party remembered another guest was also wearing a similar Nazi uniform.

Other guests say MP Alex Hawke attended the party, but he cannot remember whether he was there. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Held in the lower level garage and driveway of Mr Perrottet’s split-level family home in Sydney’s northwestern suburbs, the party was well attended, with sources recalling seeing from 50 to 100 people.

Other costumes on the night included an army uniform and police officer outfits. There was also a Balmain Tigers uniform.

The guests included Mr Perrottet’s close-knit group of friends, ex-students from Redfield College in Dural, where he had attended high school, Sydney University where he was studying law, and Warrane College, the Opus Dei residential college attached to the University of NSW where he resided.

Guests recalled other predominantly right-wing members of the Young Liberals being in attendance, including federal MP Alex Hawke, who told media on Friday night he had attended events with Mr Perrottet but did not recall being at his 21st.

The source remembered the mood on the night to be particularly jovial given the faction had just taken control of the organisation from the moderates.

Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer was the song of the evening.

“It was the year after we had taken over the Young Liberals,” the source recalled.

“ (Upper House MP) Nat Smith was trying to take over Ryde. Alex Hawke was Young Liberal president. We were feeling on top of the world.

“Every time Bon Jovi would come on — Dom’s favourite band — everyone would all be yelling and singing Livin’ On A Prayer together.

“I don’t remember too much — we were young and there was some drinking — and also Charles had a uniform-themed party a year later at the same place, so it is a bit of a blur.

“But I do remember Dom in his Nazi uniform, which he offered to take off that night.”

Brother Charles’ party was “world leaders themed”.

As for Charles’ party, one guest — a sitting NSW MP — turned up as Osama bin Laden.

No one seemed to remember what Dom wore to his brother’s party.

No photo has yet emerged from the Premier’s 21st, although the source remembered Mr Perrottet’s father walking around with a camera.

Those memories come as the Premier fronted a ferocious press pack with yet more apologies on Friday morning, flanked by senior ministers Brad Hazzard and Victor Dominello for support.

“I’ve had a number of colleagues contact me over the course of the night and I appreciate their support, but ultimately it’s not about me, it’s about the hurt the mistake I made caused many people across our community and I’m terribly sorry for that,” Mr Perrottet said.

“It’s not about politics it’s about doing what’s right.”

Mr Perrottet did not reveal his Nazi costume mistake until MP David Elliott alerted him to rumours swirling about a photo.

Labor leader Chris Minns is yet to directly comment on the furore, however his deputy Prue Car said the incident showed the government is in crisis.

*The original version of this report included party guests saying Jeremy Balkin, who was president of the UNSW Liberal Club at the time, was also at the party. Mr Balkin, who lives and works in New York, has since contacted the Saturday Telegraph to say he wasn’t there and was not invited. The Telegraph apologises to Mr Balkin for the error.

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