Billabong CEO 'took' home from kids: trial

The ex-wife of former Billabong boss Matthew Perrin has accused him of taking their $15 million family home from their three children.

Nicole Bricknell told the Brisbane District Court that signing away their custom-built, waterfront house at Surfers Paradise was "worse than having an affair".

The former Billabong CEO is now on trial for fraud and forgery after allegedly faking his wife's signature on the paperwork in 2008.

"Matthew was never allowed to sign my signature on anything," she told the court on Wednesday.

"I always protected my children and I never ever would have allowed him to sign my name on anything - that was not the right thing to do.

"This man has taken from me and my children without my permission and knowledge, that's worse than having an affair in my opinion."

The multi-millionaire couple went belly-up after Perrin allegedly used the Surfers Paradise house as security for $13.5 million credit from the Commonwealth Bank.

They allegedly made $33 million from their investment in the popular surfwear company in the late 1990s.

The pair enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle for a number of years but it all fell apart after Perrin allegedly used their waterfront home on Cronin Island as bank security.

Perrin was declared bankrupt in 2009 after his investments collapsed.

He admits signing his former wife's name but claims he had her permission to do so.

He is also accused of faking his brother Fraser Perrin's signature as a witness on the paperwork.

Perrin denies nine charges of forgery and three of fraud.