Hello and welcome back to our live coverage of the ICAC’s Operation Rosny public hearings.

I’m state political reporter Jessica McSweeney, and I’ll be bringing you all the news updates as they happen from the hearing room. Today Jean Nassif is back for another blockbuster afternoon of evidence – we can expect more sprays against his political enemies as Peggy Dwyer, SC, questions the developer about his payments to Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis.

Before Nassif joins from Beirut, the ICAC will this morning hear more evidence from former Strathfield mayor Matthew Blackmore as the corruption inquiry investigates allegations he was the victim of a pressure campaign, including five months of surveillance, to force him to quit as mayor.

Before then, let’s take a look at what we covered yesterday:

• Jean Nassif appeared via video link before the corruption inquiry and vowed to “speak my heart” before answering questions about allegations he made unlawful donations to Liberal Party figures to support factional work in exchange for political favours.
• Nassif insisted he paid Jeremy Greenwood and Christian Ellis for work to support his development projects, and said he did not pay Charles Perrottet, but said Perrottet would encourage him to pay Beckington and say words to the effect of “the boys needed [the money] for recruitment and for Liberal activities”.
• Nassif said he felt if he didn’t pay he would upset Charles Perrottet and would lose his friendship.
• The property developer was played tapes of intercepted phone calls with associated in which he bragged of influence in Liberal Party factional matters and claimed to own 52 per cent of power in the government. Nassif said he was speaking “nonsense” to anyone to make David Elliott feel like Nassif still had power.
• Former Strathfield mayor Matthew Blackmore detailed allegations former Labor councillor and Toplace staffer Sharangan Maheswaran waged a pressure campaign to force him to step down as mayor. That included surveilling him for five months and printing attack flyers against him, Blackmore said.