Former NSW Liberal minister David Elliott is considering taking legal action against people he believes have made "slanderous comments" about him, following a corruption watchdog hearing by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Mr. Elliott testified that fugitive property developer Jean Nassif may have influenced his removal as police minister in 2021 and threatened to "get" him on multiple occasions. He stated that he plans to discuss potential legal action with his lawyer, but did not name specific individuals. The ICAC is investigating donations linked to Mr. Nassif and whether they were exchanged for political favors.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
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same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Former NSW Liberal minister David Elliott, who previously held the position of police minister, has threatened to take legal action against individuals he believes have made slanderous comments about him. This threat comes after a hearing by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), which is investigating whether donations linked to fugitive property developer Jean Nassif were used to gain political favors and damage Elliott's career. During his testimony at ICAC, Elliott claimed that Nassif had attempted to remove him from office in 2021 and had even left threatening messages on his phone. Elliott stated that he would be discussing the possibility of taking legal action with his lawyer, but did not specify who he planned to target.
Written for “Ex-Minister Faces Defamation Claim” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score withheld for article 1827: no verified evidence · logged 2026-08-28
In short:
ICAC heard from ex-police minister David Elliott on Friday, who said he believed fugitive property developer, Jean Nassif, influenced his removal in 2021.
asserted
developer → hear → 2021
Mr Elliott also said Mr Nassif had confronted him twice, and had left a message on his phone threatening to "get" him.
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Nassif → say → him
Outside court, Mr Elliott said he wa considering legal action against those he believed "need to be pursued".
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he → say → those
Former NSW Liberal minister David Elliott has said he will take legal action against those he believes have said "slanderous things" about him, following a corruption watchdog hearing.
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he → say → hearing
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is examining whether donations linked to fugitive property developer Jean Nassif were exchanged for political favours, including attempts to damage Mr Elliott's career.
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donations → examine → career
On Friday, the former police minister gave evidence to ICAC.
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minister → give → ICAC
After taking the stand, Mr Elliott told reporters outside that he would be talking to his lawyer about taking legal action against those he believed "need to be pursued", but stopped short of naming anyone specifically.
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he → take → anyone
He said the "battle" of fighting corruption in the parliament was not over, and claimed there were still people in the Liberal shadow ministry "who gave evidence to criminals".
"
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who → say → criminals
We still have people in that parliamentary party, in the NSW parliament who were a party to the corruption that we've seen not only today but over the last month,"Mr
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we → have → that
Elliott said.
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Elliott → say → ?
The ICAC previously heard allegations that senior Liberal MPs Chris Rath and Damien Tudehope remained in contact with people trying to avoid giving evidence to a 2023 parliamentary inquiry.
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MPs → hear → inquiry
Mr Rath allegedly helped lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood stay informed about efforts to serve him with a summons, while Mr Tudehope was accused of passing a confidential committee report to Mr Greenwood.
uncertain
Tudehope → help → Greenwood
Mr Tudehope has not been accused of wrongdoing, while Mr Greenwood and other persons of interest in the inquiry have not been charged with any crimes.
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Greenwood → accuse → crimes
Surveillance photos 'very creepy'
Mr Elliott told the inquiry he now believed Mr Nassif influenced the decision to remove him as police minister in a 2021 cabinet reshuffle.
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Nassif → tell → reshuffle
Mr Elliott linked the move to Mr Nassif's 2019 arrest for cocaine possession at The Star casino, saying the developer may have blamed him for police being at the casino.
"
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police → link → casino
I think Nassif had probably made it clear to the hard-right that because he'd got arrested for cocaine, that I wasn't to be trusted with the police force," Mr Elliott said.
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Elliott → think → force
The inquiry 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.
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operatives → hear → career
Mr Elliott told ICAC he believed Mr Nassif was behind a campaign of negative media stories against him, after he responded to community concerns about one of his developments.
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he → tell → developments
Mr Elliott said Mr Nassif later confronted him twice and left a message on his phone threatening to "get" him.
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Nassif → say → him
He also told the inquiry private investigators followed him and his wife, describing surveillance images of his wife as "very creepy".
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investigators → tell → wife
Mr Elliott said Mr Nassif allegedly pressured his former chief of staff to provide information about him and warned that his political career could be over.
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career → say → him
Mr Elliott ultimately decided not to seek Liberal preselection for Castle Hill because he said branch-stacking had made it clear the seat would go to a candidate from the party's "religious right".
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seat → decide → right
Asked about his characterisation of the factions within the NSW Liberal Party, Mr Elliott said: "Depending on who you're talking to, some call it the hard right, some call it the right, some call it the religious right, some call it the cult."
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some → ask → it