Icac witness asked about ‘filthy schools money’ messages – as it happened

Returning to the NSW Icac’s Operation Rosny, Jean-Claude Perrottet has been asked about messages read out on the first day of the inquiry.

On 12 January 2023, Reformer Jeremy Greenwood allegedly wrote to him:

double quotation markHey, 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 fucking whining?

Jean-Claude Perrottet wrote back: “Don’t put that in writing.”

Counsel assisting Juliet Curtin asks if the messages are “because it wasn’t money that you or he were being paid for any work that you were doing for Catholic Schools NSW?”

Jean-Claude Perrottet: “No, I think Jeremy was doing work for Catholic Schools.”

Curtin: “Why is he, why is he calling it filthy schools money?”

Jean-Claude Perrottet: “I can’t speak to his thoughts, but he’s having a crack at me.”

Curtin: “OK, well then, if it was just a joke and he’s having a crack, why do you then respond quickly: ‘Don’t put that in writing’?”

Jean-Claude Perrottet: “Why would I want that in writing?”

Jean-Claude Perrottet: “Because it’s not true.”