Eleni Petinos, the former New South Wales Fair Trading Minister, appeared before the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to provide testimony regarding the circumstances surrounding her removal from office in July 2022. During the hearing, Petinos stated that she believed there was 'something strange at play' regarding her dismissal by then-Premier Dominic Perrottet.

Petinos testified that throughout 2022, she faced persistent pressure from fellow Liberal Party members to terminate the employment of David Chandler, the state’s building commissioner. According to her account, these colleagues repeatedly characterized Chandler as 'dodgy' and urged her to take action against him. Petinos maintained that she resisted these requests, suggesting that her eventual removal from the ministry—officially attributed to allegations of bullying staff—was an unfair pretext. She implied that her reluctance to comply with the demands to sack the building commissioner may have been the true motivation behind her departure from the cabinet.

The inquiry is currently examining the broader context of these political maneuverings within the former Perrottet government. While the official justification for Petinos's departure centered on workplace conduct, her testimony introduces a conflicting narrative that suggests internal political friction over the building commissioner’s role played a significant part in her exit. The inquiry continues as it seeks to determine the validity of these claims and the extent of the alleged pressure campaign.