Memory lapses, fake invoices and a reprimand: Key moments from ICAC

As ICAC's Operation Rosny nears midway mark, here's what we learnt this week Fake invoices, a "stupid joke" and a reprimand in the hearing room — it has been another revealing week at NSW's corruption watchdog. The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is examining allegations involving illegal political donations and whether people linked to fugitive property developer Jean Nassif sought to influence political and government outcomes. Operation Rosny has almost hit the halfway mark. Here is a look back at the key moments from the week and what is coming next. 'Don't give me that look' Lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood spent three days in the ICAC witness box, and it is not the last the commission will see from him. Mr Greenwood often made the job of counsel assisting a struggle, with repeated answers of "I don't know" and "I don't recall" when asked about key events or conversations. At one stage, he said he could not remember details from a phone call he had that morning. There were several tense exchanges and, at one point, Mr Greenwood snapped, saying to someone in the room: "Don't give me that look." It is not clear who the 37-year-old was referring to, but the outburst earned him a scolding from Commissioner Fabian Gleeson SC, who reminded him to listen to questions and maintain respectful conduct and "decorum". He was also pressed about a text exchange that emerged earlier in the inquiry, when he told lobbyist Jean-Claude Perrottet he had given him "filthy schools money" and had put up with his "f***ing whinging". When asked about it, Mr Greenwood chalked it up to a "stupid joke" between friends, saying he was trying to rile Mr Perrottet. But Counsel Assisting Peggy Dwyer SC put it to him that the "filthy schools money" referred to Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) funds allegedly being funnelled into Liberal Party recruitment. Mr Greenwood also said he could not recall what work his lobbying firm, Beckington, was doing for its client, Dallas McInerney, despite being paid $6,000 a month by the then-CSNSW CEO. The commission has heard Mr Greenwood and his former business partner Christian Ellis allegedly used Beckington to issue "sham" invoices disguising prohibited political donations. Monthly donations questioned Mr McInerney, spent two days in the ICAC witness box this week, as one of the key figures in the inquiry. He stood aside from the role after he was named in the ICAC's investigation. As anticipated, he faced a barrage of questions over his dealings with federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, who was named earlier in the probe. In the first week of hearings, the commission was shown a message Mr McInerney sent to NSW Reformers co-founder Robert Assaf about Mr Taylor, in which he declared: "I want to shake down Angus for 10k." Another message, from former Liberal staffer Dylan Whitelaw, claimed Mr McInerney secured a $15,000 payment from Mr Taylor, and ongoing monthly donations of $3,000 for the Reformers' work. Mr McInerney acknowledged seeking financial support from Mr Taylor but insisted it had nothing to do with the right-wing Liberal faction group, the NSW Reformers, a group at the centre of the inquiry. He said it was instead intended to support NSW Liberal internal elections and conservative candidates in key seats. Mr Taylor denied making any payment and is not accused of wrongdoing. Who's up next at inquiry? Mr McInerney is expected to appear again on Wednesday before former Liberal minister David Elliott takes the stand. The ICAC is also examining whether donations linked to Mr Nassif were exchanged for political favours, including attempts to damage Mr Elliott's career. It previously heard NSW Liberal Party operatives allegedly compiled a "David Elliott shit sheet" — a dossier of political and personal allegations aimed at damaging his career. Mr Whitelaw also told the commission Mr Greenwood and Mr Ellis claimed to have photographs of Mr Elliott involved in an alleged extramarital affair, although he was never shown them and accepted it may never have occurred. Mr Greenwood said he commissioned the document to defend his business interests, rather than target Mr Elliott politically. He also said he did not believe the allegation of an affair was true and said he received a photograph of Mr Elliott arriving home that he intended to use to suggest misconduct. He alleged the photo was supplied by former Labor councillor and lawyer for fugitive developer Mr Nassif, Sharangan Maheswaran. Mr Elliott rejected the allegations, previously telling Nine Newspapers he looked forward to the possibility of providing his "own observations". On Friday, Shadow Jobs and Industry Minister Eleni Petinos will become the second Liberal frontbencher to give evidence. Ms Petinos is not accused of any wrongdoing. An intercepted phone call played earlier in the inquiry suggested Mr Nassif believed she would replace then-fair trading minister Kevin Anderson in a cabinet reshuffle. "I'm gonna step on his neck and strip him from his job," Mr Nassif said. "Just give me two months, because the consumer affairs minister, she's 'gonna be my girl, and the fair-trading minister, she's 'gonna be one of my girls too." Two months later, Ms Petinos replaced Mr Anderson in the reshuffle. Former NSW building commissioner David Chandler resigned in 2022 following an investigation commissioned by Ms Petinos's office, but that was later reversed and he remained in the role until 2024.