IBAC held public hearings during 2019 and 2020 into allegations of serious corrupt conduct in relation to planning and property development decisions at the City of Casey council.

The hearings were part of an IBAC investigation, Operation Sandon, into allegations of corrupt conduct involving councillors and property developers in the City of Casey in Melbourne's south-east.

IBAC tabled a special report about this investigation to Parliament on 27 July 2023.

 

Public hearings

The hearings focused on:

  • the transparency and integrity of planning and property development decision making within Victoria, including but not limited to, the provision of donations and in kind assistance to candidates at State and local government elections that may give rise to actual or perceived corruption
  • whether public officers involved in planning and property development decision making have been improperly influenced through donations, gifts, pro bono services or other hospitality
  • the circumstances surrounding any actual or potential financial benefits obtained by any public officer, their families or their associates, resulting from, or otherwise in connection with, planning and property development decision making within Victoria
  • whether the use of professional lobbyists or planning consultants to lobby State and local government has resulted in undue influence over planning and property development decision making within Victoria
  • the systems and controls in place within public bodies concerning planning, with particular focus on the existence and adequacy of systems and controls for ensuring the integrity of the planning process, including by detecting instances of public officers obtaining corrupt benefits or being unduly influenced by individuals lobbying on behalf of vested interests
  • if the investigation of the above matters identifies serious corrupt conduct on the part of one or more current or former public officers, the extent to which (if at all) organisational culture and practices have fostered that conduct or hindered opportunities or attempts to detect and eliminate that conduct.

The hearings were presided over by IBAC's Commissioner The Honourable Robert Redlich QC. Counsel assisting is Michael A Tovey QC of the Victorian Bar together with Amber Harris, Principal Lawyer of IBAC.

  • Specialist witnesses to provide expert evidence are:

    • Dr Cameron Murray, Post-doctoral Research Associate, School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney
    • Dr Yee-Fui Ng, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Monash University
    • Dr Stephen Rowley, Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Department of Architecture, Monash University
    • Prof Roberta Ryan, Global Chair and Professor of Local Government, Faculty of Business and Law, University of Newcastle
    • Mr Philip Shanahan, Former CEO, Darebin, Maribyrnong, Broadmeadows and Portland Councils.

  • Day 1, 18 November 2019

    • John Charles Woodman

     

    Day 2, 19 November 2019

    • John Charles Woodman (continuing)

     

    Day 3, 20 November 2019

    • John Charles Woodman (continuing)

     

    Day 4, 21 November 2019

    • John Charles Woodman (continuing)

     

    Day 5, 25 November 2019

    • John Charles Woodman (continuing)

     

    Day 6, 26 November 2019

    • John Charles Woodman (continuing)

     

    Day 7, 27 November 2019

    • Lorraine Joan Wreford

     

    Day 8, 28 November 2019

    • Lorraine Joan Wreford (continuing)
    • Geoffrey Norman Ablett

     

    Day 9, 2 December 2019

    • Geoffrey Norman Ablett (continuing)

     

    Day 10, 3 December 2019

    • Geoffrey Norman Ablett (continuing)

     

    Day 11, 4 December 2019

    • Megan Ann Schutz

     

    Day 12, 5 December 2019

    • Megan Ann Schutz (continuing)

     

    Day 13, 6 December 2019

    • Megan Ann Schutz (continuing)

     

    Day 14, 2 March 2020

    • Megan Ann Schutz (continuing)

     

    Day 15, 3 March 2020

    • Raymond James Walker 
    • Megan Ann Schutz (continuing)

     

    Day 16, 4 March 2020

    • Raymond James Walker (continuing)
    • Glenn Andrew Patterson

     

    Day 17, 5 March 2020

    • Glenn Andrew Patterson (continuing)
    • Thomas James Kenessey

     

    Day 19, 10 March 2020

    • Thomas James Kenessey (continuing)

     

    Day 20, 11 March 2020

    • Thomas James Kenessey (continuing)

     

    Day 21, 12 March 2020

    • Susan Serey
    • Gary James Rowe

     

    Day 22, 13 March 2020

    • Gary James Rowe (continuing)

     

    Day 23, 16 March 2020

    • Councilor A

     

    Day 24, 17 March 2020

    • Councilor A (continuing)
    • Rosalie Bianca Crestani

     

    Day 25, 9 November 2020

    • Philip Joseph Staindl

     

    Day 26, 10 November 2020

    • Philip Joseph Staindl (continuing)

     

    Day 27, 11 November 2020

    • Philip Joseph Staindl (continuing)

     

    Day 28, 12 November 2020

    • Philip Joseph Staindl (continuing)

     

    Day 29, 16 November 2020

    • Sameh Aziz

     

    Day 30, 17 November 2020

    • Sameh Aziz (continuing)

     

    Day 31, 18 November 2020

    • Sameh Aziz (continuing)

     

    Day 32, 19 November 2020

    • Sameh Aziz (continuing)

     

    Day 33, 23 November 2020

    • Sameh Aziz (continuing)

     

    Day 34, 24 November 2020

    • Sameh Aziz (continuing)

     

    Day 35, 25 November 2020

    • Judith Graley

     

    Day 36, 26 November 2020

    • Jude Perera

     

    Day 37, 30 November 2020

    • Pauline Richards

     

    Day 38, 1 December 2020

    • Sameh Aziz (continuing)

     

    Day 39, 2 December 2020

    • Peter Keogh

     

    Day 40, 3 December 2020

    • Geoffrey Leigh

     

    Day 41, 7 December 2020

    • Amy Sullivan
    • Fleur Morales

     

    Day 42, 9 December 2020

    • Andrew Nehme

     

    Day 43, 10 December 2020

    • Andrew Nehme (continuing)

     

    Day 44, 14 December 2020

    • Dr Stephen Rowley
    • Dr Cameron Murray
    • Prof Roberta Ryan

     

    Day 45, 15 December 2020

    • Dr Yee-Fui Ng
    • Mr Philip Shanahan

  • Media contact

    0427 480 840 or media@ibac.vic.gov.au

Related resources

Protecting the welfare of witnesses
What witnesses can expect, what's required of them and welfare support that may be available.
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Special report overview
Special report overview
IBAC Acting Commissioner Stephen Farrow provides an overview of the special report on Operation Sandon, an investigation into allegations of improper influence in planning and local council.
Corruption risks in local councils webinar
Corruption risks in local councils webinar
Watch recording