Hills Shire Council Inquiry accused of using private eyes and harassing pregnant woman

The parliamentary inquiry investigating claims of corruption at Hills Shire Council has been accused of using unlicensed ‘private investigators’ and harassing a heavily pregnant woman in a bid to force witnesses to testify.

A parliamentary inquiry investigating allegations of corruption at The Hills Shire Council has been accused of using unlicensed “private investigators” and harassing a heavily pregnant woman in a bid to force witnesses — including Dominic Perrottet’s younger brother — to testify.

The inquiry launched an extraordinary statewide search in an attempt to track down a number of Liberal party figures, including Jean-Claude Perrottet, to compel them to face questions about the influence of developers on the council.

The inquiry was established to investigate explosive claims made under parliamentary privilege by Castle Hill State Liberal MP Ray Williams that senior Liberals had been paid “significant funds” to install new councillors in The Hills who would support DAs by developer Toplace, owned by Jean Nassif.

Mr Nassif has refused to appear before the inquiry because he is in Lebanon.

Opposition MPs were on Thursday night scrambling to find out if the inquiry could sit next week, after the government moved to prorogue parliament from Monday. A spokesman for the Premier said upper house inquiries could continue to sit until March.

(Clockwise, from top left) Charles Perrottet, Ray Williams (who made the initial allegations), Virginia Ellis, Jean-Claude Perrottet and Jean Nassif.

The inquiry on Thursday tabled an anonymous dossier which alleged a group within the NSW Liberal Party’s hard-right faction — known as “The Reformers” — had attempted a widespread branch-stacking operation in The Hills district.

The document named Christian Ellis and Jean Claude Perrottet as key members of the group. The inquiry has attempted to find both men to serve summons on them, along with Mr Ellis’ mother, Hills Shire councillor Virginia Ellis.

Charles Perrottet, who was also asked to appear, has refused. He is in Victoria and out of reach of the inquiry’s powers.

The committee has also tried to serve a summons on lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood, who was once in business with Mr Ellis. It is understood Mr Greenwood is not a member of the Liberal Party.

In a letter leaked to The Daily Telegraph, Mr Greenwood accused the committee of using taxpayer money to hire unlicensed “private investigators” in their search.

“It appears that the committee has engaged an unlicensed person to harass the family members of people marginally connected to the inquiry. I welcome an explanation,” it said.

Mr Greenwood said an investigator went to his home and “accosted” his pregnant wife on Tuesday.

“She politely asked him to leave the property … He then shone a bright light into her eyes, leaving her distressed.

“She subsequently asked him to leave the property twice and on the third time, threatened to call the NSW Police.

“My wife has subsequently gone into labour and we have celebrated the birth of our child,” the letter said.

Greens MP and committee chair Sue Higginson said the committee had “engaged a professional licensed process server” because witnesses had been “non-cooperative and evasive, or partially cooperative but evasive”.

“It would be good if Mr Greenwood, along with the other witnesses … would make themselves available to give evidence,” she said.

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