The Sauce: Search for Jean-Claude and Charles Perrottet looking like a farce

The Sauce: Not since The Naked Gun movies has an investigation become as comical as the hunt for Premier Dominic Perrottet’s ‘missing’ brothers.

Not since Leslie Nielsen’s klutz cop Frank Drebin graced the silver screen in The Naked Gun series has an investigation become as comical as the hunt for Premier Dominic Perrottet’s “missing” brothers.

Seemingly ‘on the run’ from investigators seeking to summons them to appear before a state parliamentary inquiry, Jean-Claude and Charles Perrottet have somehow manage to evade investigators for over a week.

Or have they?

Far from hiding in bunkers or roaming Rambo-style through bushland in ghillie suits, The Sauce has been told both have simply been “going about their day”.

An operative close to Jean-Claude noted how the inquiry had been told investigators had failed to locate the younger Perrottet despite turning up to his “house” on multiple occasions.

Priscilla Presley and Leslie Nielsen in scene from The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear.

In a report tabled by the inquiry, the investigator wrote how Perrottet’s “house” was observed to be unattended during one visit, with “all but two of the curtains on the windows closed (open curtains are on upper windows)” and “no movement and no cars in the driveway”.

“Rang the door bell twice (no answer and no movement or sounds from the

house),” the investigator wrote.

On a separate visit, the investigator wrote how the “curtains were drawn”.

“However the garage door was up and two cars were visible,” the investigator wrote.

But is it a case of the specially-appointed investigators not looking in the right places?

According to our operative, Jean-Claude doesn’t live in a house, but in a multi-level Sydney apartment block. “He has lived in the apartment for several years,” the source said.

Sources say the Premier’s brothers Charles Perrottet …

… and Jean-Claude Perrottet have been going about their daily lives.

As for Charles, the investigator report revealed attempts to reach him both in Sydney and in Victoria.

The source said Charles was living and working in Victoria.

The report said there had been multiple attempts to phone, email and post invitations to appear before the NSW inquiry.

It is understood legal advice has been obtained which shows non-NSW residents cannot be summonsed to appear before a NSW parliamentary inquiry.

The inquiry into Hills Shire Council was convened after Liberal MP Ray Williams used parliamentary privilege last year to allege members of his own party were paid to install new councillors who would be friendly to local developers.

Senior Labor MP Penny Sharpe said parliamentary inquiries usually did not require investigators to force witnesses to appear.

“The witnesses could all just turn up to the inquiry and I encourage them to do so,” she said.

LONG WAY

It’s no wonder Labor has made tolls a key election issue, given the route Opposition Leader Chris Minns took when he drove from Penrith to the city last week.

Jumping on the M7, Minns copped another toll on the M2 before racking up more as he headed over the Harbour Bridge.

The bizarre route prompted one observer to question whether Minns was aware of the existence of the WestConnex.

However, it appears it was all for the cameras.

Minns had been conducting a media conference about Labor’s $60 toll cap policy when camera crews were offered a “pic fac” — opportunity to obtain vision — of the Labor leader driving through toll gates.

PEP TALK

With a state election five week away, pollies are scrambling to get their faces on TV.

On the Sydney’s northern beaches last week, pollies and candidates were tripping over each other to have their say on PEP 11 offshore gas drilling project.

Three separate press conferences were convened at the same beach on the issue with each group seeking their five minutes in front of the cameras.

Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan. Picture: Tim Hunter

The Surfrider Foundation initially called a press conference at Manly at 11am on Wednesday, inviting Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan and surfer Layne Beachley to speak.

It is understood Manly “teal” candidate Joeline Hackman and Pittwater “teal” candidate Jacqui Scruby were also planning to hold a press conference at Manly, when Treasurer Matt Kean announced he would be holding one at Mona Vale, also at 11am.

Kean, who declared he would codify in law the policy decision announced last February to ban oil and gas exploration in NSW waters, turned up with Environment Minister James Griffin, Pittwater candidate Rory Amon, Wakehurst candidate Toby Williams, Vaucluse candidate Kellie Sloane and North Shore MP Felicity Wilson.

Having got wind of the action at Mona Vale, Hackman and Scruby scurried over to Mona Vale to convene their own presser to claim credit for the change in NSW government’s position.

Surfrider, Regan and Beachley also head over to Mona Vale to convene their press conference.

Regan, who is the independent candidate for Wakehurst, was invited by Surfrider to speak, having asked for a ban back in 2019

THOUGHT POLICE

Five months after the Knox Grammar chat scandal forced the NSW government to appoint a “chief behaviour adviser” to advise schools on how to deal with poor student conduct, the NSW Department of Education finally posted its job ad.

Along with promoting positive behaviours for learning through inclusion, equity and respect, the ad says the role will also support “thought leadership”.

Huh?

Having researched the term, it is apparently “a thing”.

According to business sites, a “thought leader” is someone who offers guidance and insight to those around them.

Given the very serious student behaviour issues that have come to light in the media lately, we would hope what we expect will be a highly paid gig is more that just offering thought bubbles.

DEFLATING DEBATE

He is known as the government’s grenade-launcher, but the audience members who turned up to watch fireworks when Veterans Minister David Elliott debated Opposition veterans spokesman Greg Warren last week would have left feeling disappointed.

The lack of abuse or airborne objects was primarily due to the fact the pair have a mutual respect for each other, having both served in the army.

Warren served both the Royal Australian Infantry Corp and Royal Australian Corp of Transport, and was a former infantry sniper, while Elliott is a former captain and peacekeeper.

“One attendee said it was like turning up to a meeting of the mutual appreciation society,” a source close to the pair said.

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