Inquiry chasing missing Perrottet brother to hold 11th hour hearing

A parliamentary inquiry probing impropriety within a Sydney council will hold an eleventh hour public hearing in a bid to summon six key witnesses including the brother of Premier Dominic Perrottet.

AN inquiry looking into allegations of impropriety within Hills Shire Council is expected to hold another public hearing as late as Thursday after Premier Dominic Perrottet’s brother and five other key witnesses refused to attend.

The Hills Shire Inquiry is seeking evidence from witnesses Christian Ellis, Virginia Ellis, Jean Claude Perrottet and Jeff Egan.

Robert Assaf and Dylan Whitelaw have also been invited to attend the hearing but did not attend.

The committee is required to report by midnight on March 2 before the pre-election caretaker period begins on March 3.

As of February 21, 14 attempts had been made the serve he six witnesses with their court summons.

Jean Claude Perrottet. Picture: Richard Dobson

Among the missing witnesses is Mr Perrottet’s brother Jean Claude with the latest server report revealing he is on leave from work and his employer is unable to say when he will return.

Councillor Virginia Ellis has also not attended a Hills Shire Council meeting and her council colleagues and staff reported last hearing from her on February 10.

“This is an unprecedented attempt by witnesses to evade a parliamentary inquiry. I can confirm that Opposition members of the committee have requested this last-minute hearing in a bid to stop witnesses running down the clock. We believe these witnesses could shed some light on these serious allegations by Government MP Ray Williams,” Labor MLC John Graham said.

Premier Perrottet has slammed Labor for playing politics with his family and told the opposition and the media to “leave my family out of it”.

His other brother, Charles Perrottet, was also sought as a witness by the inquiry but the Victorian resident refused to attend the “circus”.