![\"Penry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789364418_412_Penry_Buckley.png\")
Penry Buckley<\/p>\nJean Nassif tells Icac \u2018I\u2019m going to speak my heart\u2019Penry Buckley<\/p>\n
Leaving question time for a moment, and the propery developer Jean Nassif is now appearing on screen at the NSW Icac, wearing a white, open-collared shirt.<\/p>\n
Although the video connection with Nassif, who has said he is appearing from his bedroom in Beirut, has occasionally been interrupted, presiding commissioner Fabian Gleeson SC has been able to explain to Nassif that he has not been compelled to give evidence, and has the right to silence.<\/p>\n
Gleeson: \u201cAnd as I understand it, you have nevertheless indicated that you would like to give evidence before the commission. Is that correct? Is that correct, Mr Nassif?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nassif: \u201cYes, your honour.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gleeson asks Nassif, who does not have legal representation, if he would like to take legal advice. Nassif says:<\/p>\n
double quotation markI don\u2019t wish to have legal advice. I\u2019m going to speak my heart, and I\u2019m going to say exactly what happened with me in my whole entire career for 25 years in Australia. I\u2019m willing to answer any question \u2026 I have no issues.<\/p>\n
Updated at\u00a000.39 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Thank you all so much for following along on the blog today!<\/p>\n I\u2019ll leave you with the fabulous Achol Arok and see you here bright and early tomorrow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Jean Nassif complained to Tony Abbott of Liberal opposition to developments<\/p>\n Returning to Jean Nassif\u2018s appearance before the NSW Icac, questioning has focused on the property developer\u2019s feud with centre-right Liberals, including David Elliott, who he says were \u201crejecting all my properties across the suburbs and putting blocking on it\u201d.<\/p>\n Asked about comments by Elliott in 2019 about constituents complaining of defects in apartments built by his company Toplace, Nassif describes Elliott as \u201ca racist person and … corrupt politician\u201d.<\/p>\n Nassif says: \u201cI want to stop at that for now, because I\u2019ve got plenty to say\u201d.<\/p>\n Elliott, who has told the commission that Nassif began to target him after he opposed his developments, is not accused of any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n Counsel assisting, Peggy Dwyer SC, has asked how Nassif came to know with Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis, who, alongside Charles Perrottet, are alleged to have taken $2m in prohibited donations from Nassif. Greenwood and Charles Perrottet have rejected that payments were for political outcomes while Ellis, who has moved to the UK, is not expected to give evidence.<\/p>\n Nassif says he spoke at a function to Liberal figure JP Abood and former Liberal prime minister Tony Abbott, during which he says he complained to Abbott about \u201cmy problems with the centre-right\u201d, including federal and state Liberal MPs.<\/p>\n Abood suggested he speak to Ellis and Greenwood, saying: \u201cThey might take over the Hills soon, so talk to them and see if they can help you\u201d. Abbott is not named as a person of interest in Icac\u2019s inquiry and is not accused of any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tl;dr here\u2019s what happened in question time (already feels like an eternity ago)<\/p>\n The PM was pressed on the $6m grant awarded to a golf club<\/a> in his electorate that he is an honorary member of.<\/p>\n Asked if the grant was making his property down the road more valuable, he said it wasn\u2019t so much a \u201cquestion as a smear<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n Andrew Wallace brought a fat stack of papers to the chamber with 10,000 signatures<\/a> on it calling for a reduction in private health rebates for over 65s to be reversed.<\/p>\n Independent Dai Le asked if the government would cut the fuel excise<\/a> to give people more cost of living relief.<\/p>\n And shadow treasurer Tim Wilson was the sole MP to face Milton Dick\u2019s wrath today \u2013 kicked out<\/a> around the two thirds mark for making too much noise.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Hundreds of jobs cut at Whyalla steelworks in SA About 500 Whyalla steelworks employees will lose their jobs after officials abandoned efforts to restart the plant\u2019s troubled blast furnace.<\/p>\n The decision is expected to put about 500 out of work, according to the plant\u2019s administrators KordaMentha, taking the workforce from the steelworks, the port and the associated mine down from about 1,700 to about 1,200.<\/p>\n The decision to abandon further revival efforts shuts down Australia\u2019s sole local manufacturer of rail steel and idles one of only two integrated steel facilities in the country.<\/p>\n The Whyalla steelworks were part of British industrialist Sanjeev Gupta\u2019s metals empire until early last year, when the South Australian government tipped the operations into administration<\/a> after years of underinvestment.<\/p>\n The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, said today that the blast furnace\u2019s \u201cdays were numbered\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markThere was always the intention that it would close. We would have liked it to last a little bit longer, but, alas, it hasn\u2019t been able to.<\/p>\n Last year, the federal and state governments unveiled a $2.4bn support package to keep the plant running, pay employees and creditors, upgrade infrastructure, and ultimately entice a new buyer to reinvigorate the plant.<\/p>\n The coal-fired blast furnace has been offline since April. Administrators are seeking a buyer to restore operations.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.34 EDT<\/p>\n Top spy warns Australia\u2019s old tech vulnerable to AI hacking<\/p>\n One of Australia\u2019s top intelligence agencies has warned Australian business and government\u2019s old technology is leaving them vulnerable to AI attacks.<\/p>\n Abigail Bradshaw, director general of the Australian Signals Directorate, has told the Sydney Dialogue to take note of Anthropic\u2019s recent warning of AI agents and hacking risks. She said ASD did not know how many agents were on the internet:<\/p>\n double quotation markI think that prospect of getting some sort of definition or calculation of how these agents are out there is really remote, and I would just say a lot.<\/p>\n She said Australian systems faced \u201cenormous\u201d hidden costs of maintaining outdated technology but said they needed to be addressed. She said:<\/p>\n double quotation markIf we don\u2019t move fast enough, almost certainly it would be legacy technology which is first compromised in a major AI-enabled attack.<\/p>\n Government and businesses had the same issue and neither had the funding to replace all of its old systems, she said. But she said partial replacement had to start immediately and that would mean taking down systems that Australians expect to be available all the time.<\/p>\n double quotation markWhat AI calls for, because of the ease and speed in which vulnerabilities are detected, and the need now to patch not every Tuesday, not every two weeks, but potentially within 48 hours, means that we are asking people to make a different decision. We are asking private owners of infrastructure to actually optimise security over system availability. And that means we\u2019re all going to have to be a little bit patient and do it.<\/p>\n Australian Signals Directorate chief Abigail Bradshaw. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.36 EDT<\/p>\n Sussan Ley appointed to Snowy Hydro board The Albanese government has named the former Liberal leader Sussan Ley to the board of Snowy Hydro Limited.<\/p>\n Ley, who quit politics after being rolled as opposition leader by Angus Taylor in February, was appointed by the energy minister, Chris Bowen, and the finance minister, Katy Gallagher.<\/p>\n Snowy Hydro, the massive hydroelectricity project in regional New South Wales, is a government owned corporation.<\/p>\n The government also appointed Merryn York, the former chief executive of Queensland\u2019s Powerlink and a former executive with the Australian Energy Market Operator.<\/p>\n Former opposition leader Sussan Ley. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.23 EDT<\/p>\n After a final dixer to Chris Bowen on cheaper home batteries, the PM calls time on QT.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n People are choosing between \u2018filling the tank and filling the fridge\u2019, independent says as she urges fuel excise cut<\/p>\n The independent MP Dai Le asks the prime minister if the government will halve the fuel excise again to relief cost of living pressure.<\/p>\n She says that while door knocking in Liverpool in Sydney\u2019s south-west, people are telling her that they\u2019re having to choose between \u201cfilling the tank and filling the fridge.\u201d<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese doesn\u2019t say the word \u201cexcise\u201d once in his answer and just avoids the question entirely.<\/p>\n He says that people in Le\u2019s electorate are benefiting from policies like tax cuts and urgent care clinics.<\/p>\n double quotation mark1,483 people have been helped to buy their first home with the 5% deposit scheme in Fowler alone, and Red Assistance has been given to 18,330 people. Cheaper home batteries has been delivered to more than 3,000 households in Fowler, 5,600 families have benefitted from cheaper childcare, and 24,000 students benefitted from to cut to student debt.<\/p>\n Le stands up to point Albanese back into the direction of her question, but he sits down and indicates that he\u2019s finished his answer.<\/p>\n Independent MP Dai Le. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.26 EDT<\/p>\n Wallace brings 10,000 signatures urging reversal of health insurance changes for over 65s<\/p>\n The Liberal MP Andrew Wallace changes tack now, and asks the government if it will reverse a decision to reduce private health rebates for over 65s.<\/p>\n Wallace is holding a huge stack of papers, that he reveals has more than 10,000 signatures from Australians opposed to the rebate changes.<\/p>\n The health minister, Mark Butler, basically says the government is holding firm despite the backlash, because the $3bn in savings will help fund aged care services.<\/p>\n The government has argued its unfair for an individual under 65 paying more for the same private health insurance compared to someone over 65.<\/p>\n He says hard decisions have to be made:<\/p>\n double quotation markI don\u2019t pretend this is an easy decision. It\u2019s not one we have taken lightly. We\u2019ve looked at the modelling very carefully. We\u2019re convinced it will have a very marginal impact on private health insurance membership, which continues to climb \u2026 these are one of the hard decisions we have to make, if we\u2019re going to deliver older Australians, the dignity and care that they deserve.<\/p>\n Wallace tries to table the petition but he\u2019s shut down. Tony Burke says it should be presented to the petitions committee instead.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.14 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m not even the decision maker\u2019: Albanese denies involvement in golf club grant<\/p>\n Did the prime minister recuse himself from a decision to hand a golf club in his electorate a $6m grant under an \u201cinvite-only\u201d scheme that favoured Labor seats, asks Nationals MP Alison Penfold.<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese\u2019s leaving minutes on the clock with these short responses (MPs get three minutes to answer during QT).<\/p>\n He says:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe question goes to Cabinet processes. The decision\u2013maker is the minister for infrastructure. I\u2019m not even the decision\u2013maker.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the whole answer.<\/p>\n As he says it, infrastructure minister Catherine King points to herself and says \u201cthat\u2019s me\u201d.<\/p>\n Infrastructure minister Catherine King. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.14 EDT<\/p>\n Albanese pressed on golf club grant<\/p>\n The opposition is continuing its line of attack on the $6m grant to a golf club, in the prime minister\u2019s electorate, that Anthony Albanese<\/a> is an honorary member of.<\/p>\n Liberal frontbencher Tony Pasin asks why the PM failed to declare the membership.<\/p>\n The PM says that he didn\u2019t know until last week that he had the membership, and says that a two-year social membership of the club is $5.<\/p>\n double quotation markI make no apologies for the fact that I stand up for every organisation in my electorate. That\u2019s what good local members do.<\/p>\n Albanese does not mention that a full membership of the club is $1,100 a year.<\/p>\n Last week during QT the opposition brought their own receipts, including a Daily Telegraph article from 2019 that reported that Albanese was an honorary member.<\/p>\n The PM in the House of Representatives on Monday. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.14 EDT<\/p>\n Tim Wilson booted from the chamber<\/p>\n As Labor MP Alicia Payne stands up to ask the next dixer, Milton Dick kicks out shadow treasurer Tim Wilson from the frontbench for interjecting too much.<\/p>\n Tim Wilson leaves question time after being kicked out. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.52 EDT<\/p>\n Albanese says Coalition\u2019s golf club grant question \u2018wasn\u2019t so much a question as a smear\u2019<\/p>\n The Coalition is sniffing around and trying to find something that stinks.<\/p>\n The Liberal frontbencher Angie Bell asks if a decision to give the Marrickville golf club in the prime minister\u2019s electorate $6m to fix a sewage problem as part of an \u201cinvite-only\u201d grants program has helped to \u201cincrease the value of his investment property down the road?\u201d Anthony Albanese<\/a> holds an honorary membership at the club which he says he didn\u2019t know about.<\/p>\n The leader of the House, Tony Burke, is up from his seat at lightning speed and then there\u2019s a bunch of back and forth over whether the question is in line with parliamentary standards.<\/p>\n It takes more than five minutes of argy bargy before the PM answers, and criticises the question himself.<\/p>\n double quotation markThat wasn\u2019t so much a question as a smear, and its imputations are completely false.<\/p>\n And the opposition, of course, made election commitments worth $1.6bn \u2013 over 1,000 of them. We\u2019re happy to go through them.<\/p>\n He\u2019s about to say that none of those commitments were for Sydney\u2019s inner west, but as Bell gets up to protest the line of attack, Albanese sits down and indicates he\u2019s finished his answer.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.56 EDT<\/p>\n Labor \u2018failing at aged care\u2019, says independent Rebekha Sharkie<\/p>\n Why won\u2019t the government concede that they\u2019re \u201cfailing at aged care\u201d, asks independent MP Rebekha Sharkie. She says in her state of SA, in October 2022 state hospitals reported 60 older patients waiting for residential aged care \u2013 a figure that has now ballooned to 487.<\/p>\n Sharkie also says 5,000 people have died waiting for support at home packages.<\/p>\n The aged care minister, Sam Rae, says things are improving, and more money has been provided to states for hospitals and to increase the number of aged care beds.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019ve got 830,000 Australians receiving care under the commonwealth home support program and roughly 400,000 Australians receiving care under support at home. That support at home system has nearly tripled since 2020 under our government, and the investments that we\u2019ve made. Wait times are coming down under support at home.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.44 EDT<\/p>\n Jean Nassif tells Icac \u2018I\u2019m going to speak my heart\u2019 Leaving question time for a moment, and the propery developer Jean Nassif is now appearing on screen at the NSW Icac, wearing a white, open-collared shirt.<\/p>\n Although the video connection with Nassif, who has said he is appearing from his bedroom in Beirut, has occasionally been interrupted, presiding commissioner Fabian Gleeson SC has been able to explain to Nassif that he has not been compelled to give evidence, and has the right to silence.<\/p>\n Gleeson: \u201cAnd as I understand it, you have nevertheless indicated that you would like to give evidence before the commission. Is that correct? Is that correct, Mr Nassif?\u201d<\/p>\n Nassif: \u201cYes, your honour.\u201d<\/p>\n Gleeson asks Nassif, who does not have legal representation, if he would like to take legal advice. Nassif says:<\/p>\n double quotation markI don\u2019t wish to have legal advice. I\u2019m going to speak my heart, and I\u2019m going to say exactly what happened with me in my whole entire career for 25 years in Australia. I\u2019m willing to answer any question \u2026 I have no issues.<\/p>\n Jean Nassif gives evidence to the NSW Icac inquiry from Lebanon. Photograph: Independent Commission Against CorruptionShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a000.39 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018I know what he thinks of you\u2019, Coalition challenges Albanese on criticism from Labor luminary<\/p>\n There\u2019s nothing worse than being criticised by your own, which is why the shadow treasurer, Tim Wilson, has now pounced on comments from former union leader and Labor luminary Bill Kelty that Labor is presiding over falling housing affordability and a drop in real wages.<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese tries to brush off the burn, and says to the opposition:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe all know Bill Kelty. I\u2019ll make that point. I know Bill Kelty. And I know what he thinks of you.<\/p>\n Maybe he would have a quote for you, but it would be unprintable. We know that Australians are under cost\u2013of\u2013living pressure. We know that.<\/p>\n He then takes a more personal shot at Wilson\u2019s book (\u201cnot a book I have read, I must say. But I\u2019ve heard enough quotes from it,\u201d he says) that said capital gains tax discounts were making the system unfair.<\/p>\n![\"Jean](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1670.jpg\")
Jean Nassif gives evidence to the NSW Icac inquiry from Lebanon. Photograph: Independent Commission Against CorruptionShare<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Krishani](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789364419_47_Krishani_Dhanji.png\")
Krishani Dhanji<\/p>\nPenry Buckley<\/p>\n![\"Jonathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789364420_814_Jonathan_Barrett.png\")
Jonathan Barrett<\/p>\n![\"Luca](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789364421_865_Luca_Ittimani.png\")
Luca Ittimani<\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789364421_467_Tom_McIlroy.png\")
Tom McIlroy<\/p>\nPenry Buckley<\/p>\n