ICAC’s Jean Nassif Probe Poised to Rock NSW Politics and The Hills Shire Council in 2026

A widening corruption probe into fugitive property developer Jean Nassif is shaping up to be one of 2026’s biggest political flashpoints, with potential aftershocks extending from The Hills Shire Council to Macquarie Street.

 

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is understood to have interviewed a range of figures including former ministers, ex-councillors, and sitting MPs, as part of its investigation sparked by Liberal MP Ray Williams’s allegations of misconduct involving Nassif and The Hills Shire Council.

While the Commission remains tight-lipped, insiders suggest the inquiry’s scope is both serious and far-reaching, fuelling intense speculation across Sydney’s political circles.

 

At the centre of the storm sits Castle Hill, where incumbent MP Mark Hodges is facing multiple preselection challenges.

 

Among his contenders are:

• Jean-Pierre Abood, former Parramatta Councillor and close associate of Damien Tudehope

• Tom Ryan, a former staffer to Dom Perrottet and husband to Francesca Perrottet

• Peter Gangemi, former Hills Shire Mayor widely regarded as the strongest Liberal candidate on merit

 

It’s the same council long linked, at least by association, to Nassif’s controversial development dealings.

 

Sources confirm that several Liberal Party members have already spoken with ICAC investigators. Mr Hodges declined to confirm whether he was among them, saying it would be “not appropriate or helpful” to comment, but clarified that he is “not subject to an ICAC summons” and “not bound by any confidentiality agreement.”

 

The Hills Shire Council has categorically denied any wrongdoing or impropriety, while Nassif, now believed to be overseas, has also rejected any claims of direct contact with councillors.

 

Observers believe public ICAC hearings are likely next year, potentially making it one of the most explosive inquiries in recent NSW political history.

 

The findings could reshape the political landscape across The Hills and reverberate throughout state politics in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.