A hotelier and prohibited donor has told a probe into corruption in the Liberal Party he was a supporter of former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet before he "went woke".
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption is examining alleged collusion between developer Jean Nassif and state Liberal Party powerbrokers, including Mr Perrottet's brothers.
In an inquiry dubbed Operation Rosny, the watchdog is investigating whether political donations from Nassif and his development company Toplace were taken between 2020 and 2023 in return for favourable outcomes.
"I've got my hand on the state government and you're going to see changes," Nassif vowed to an associate in a recorded phone call played to the commission on Monday.
Michael O'Hara was the first witness to give evidence at the inquiry, which is examining donations made for him by company Paslibdan Pty Ltd.
A right-wing faction of the state Liberals, known as the Reformers, was identified as being pivotal in the various schemes.
They included, most prominently, Jean-Claude Perrottet and Charles Perrottet, whose older brother Dominic became premier in October 2021.
The inquiry was told donations were made to support the Reformers.
Mr O'Hara was asked about the political organisations he had supported in addition to his involvement with people linked to the Liberal Party.
He told the inquiry the day after he received a summons to appear before the anti-corruption commission, he got a letter from the Liberal Party saying he was no longer a member.
Mr O'Hara said he was a supporter of Mr Perrottet before he "went woke".
Political donations from developers have been banned in NSW since 2009.
Counsel assisting the commission Peggy Dwyer SC began her opening statement with a bold adage.
"Money in politics, as in other spheres of life, has the potential to corrupt," she said.
Dr Dwyer presented three main allegations of corrupt conduct from 2019 to 2023 all linked to Nassif.
These even ensnared Labor councillors in another council accused of blackmail.
Dr Dwyer described Charles Perrottet as "the muscle of the right faction of the NSW Liberal Party".
"He acted as the negotiator and behind the scenes an orchestrator with respect to pursuing factional agendas and deals," she said.
Charles Perrottet and other Liberal-affiliated lobbyists anticipated receiving $2 million from Nassif that they would split equally, the commission was told on Monday.
Dr Dwyer revealed a December 2019 meeting took place between the two men at which Nassif pledged up to $1 million to the Liberal Party to branch-stack candidates at the Hills Shire Council in northwest Sydney.
In January 2021, Charles Perrottet sent a message to Nassif asking for $148,500 as a cheque to a lobbying firm, bypassing electoral funding laws.
"Any chance I could drop over today to pick up that assistance for the upcoming pre-selections?" Charles Perrottet allegedly wrote.
"I'll get it ready for you at the office," Nassif replied.
The commission was played audio of an expletive-laden call between Nassif and Charles Perrottet.
He particularly complained about building commissioner David Chandler, police minister David Elliott and long-time shock jock Ray Hadley holding up his development projects.
Jean-Claude Perrottet, who allegedly fled to Fiji when called to appear as a witness during a 2023 parliamentary inquiry examining similar claims to those before the corruption watchdog, was also involved.
Dr Dwyer read texts between him and Jeremy Greenwood, a lobbyist for Catholic Schools NSW.
"Hey, so you know how I'm good to you and help you and give you all your filthy schools money, and put up with your f***ing whining," Greenwood wrote.
"Don't put that in writing," Jean-Claude Perrottet wrote back, with Mr Greenwood assuring him it would automatically be deleted.
Dominic Perrottet, whose party was defeated at the March 2023 election, has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Nassif is being pursued by NSW Police after a two-year fraud investigation and is thought to be in Lebanon.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest, while 57 companies linked with Toplace are in administration.
