The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will hold a public inquiry commencing on 27 July 2026 as part of an investigation – Operation Rosny – into allegations concerning people associated with the Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division), the CEO of Catholic Schools NSW Dallas McInerney, property developer Jean Nassif, hotelier Michael O’Hara, certain Strathfield councillors and others.
The allegations are as follows:
Allegation 1
Whether, between 2019 and 2023:
- Persons, including Christian Ellis, Jeremy Greenwood, Robert Assaf and Jean-Claude Perrottet solicited or accepted political donations, including from prohibited donors, in amounts that were not declared and exceeded applicable donation caps, for purposes that included the recruitment and/or renewal of members to the Liberal Party;
- Political donations, in amounts that were not declared and exceeded applicable donation caps, were made by Catholic Schools New South Wales, pursuant to payments arranged and approved by its Chief Executive Officer, Dallas McInerney, for purposes that included the recruitment and/or renewal of members to the Liberal Party;
- Political donations, in amounts that were not declared and exceeded applicable donation caps, were made by Paslibdan Pty Ltd, on behalf of prohibited donor Michael O’Hara, for purposes that included the recruitment and/or renewal of members to the Liberal Party;
- Various persons entered into or carried out schemes for purposes that included circumventing the prohibitions or requirements of Part 3 of the Electoral Funding Act 2018 (NSW) with respect to the political donations referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above,
which conduct could involve possible offences under ss 143, 144 and 145 of the Electoral Funding Act 2018 (NSW).
Allegation 2
Whether, between approximately 2020 and 2023, political donations were made by or on behalf of Jean Nassif and Toplace Pty Ltd, being prohibited donors under the Electoral Funding Act 2018 (NSW), and were solicited or accepted by Christian Ellis, Jeremy Greenwood and Charles Perrottet:
- for purposes that included the recruitment and/or renewal of members to the Liberal Party, which conduct could involve possible offences under ss 143, 144 and 145 of the Electoral Funding Act 2018 (NSW); and/or
- involving a scheme entered into or carried out by various persons for purposes that included circumventing the prohibitions or requirements of Part 3 of the Electoral Funding Act 2018 (NSW) with respect to the political donations referred to above; and/or
- in exchange for the pursuit of outcomes sought by Mr Nassif, including damage to the political career of the Hon David Elliott MP and the removal of the Building Commissioner, David Chandler OAM, from public office and/or preventing him from exercising his official functions in respect of Mr Nassif’s developments, and whether the pursuit of such outcomes may constitute corrupt conduct by various persons within the meaning of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988 (NSW).
Allegation 3
Whether Strathfield Councillors Sharangan Maheswaran and/or Karen Pensabene engaged in conduct towards Strathfield Councillor Matthew Blackmore that involves the dishonest or partial exercise of their official functions and/or a breach of public trust, including conduct which could involve blackmail and/or possible breaches of the Surveillance Devices Act 2007.
Operation Rosny Public Inquiry details
The general scope and purpose of this public inquiry is to gather evidence relevant to the allegations being investigated for the purpose of determining the matters referred to in sections 13(2) and 13A of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988.
Section 13A of the ICAC Act gives the Commission the function of investigating certain matters referred to it by the NSW Electoral Commission. The conduct outlined in allegations 1 and 2 could involve possible offences under s143, s144 and/or s145 of the Electoral Funding Act.
Assistant Commissioner the Hon Fabian Gleeson SC will preside at the public inquiry. Counsel Assisting the Commission will be Dr Peggy Dwyer SC, Juliet Curtin and Hugo Wilesmith.
