Developer invoiced John Woodman $8.5k for Dan Andrews dinners
Ferrari-driving developer John Woodman was invoiced $8500 for tickets to a “dinner with Daniel Andrews” at the Hellenic Museum last year, an anti-corruption hearing has been told.
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Ferrari-driving developer John Woodman was invoiced $8500 for tickets to a “dinner with Daniel Andrews” at the Hellenic Museum last year, an anti-corruption hearing has been told.
The invoice, which was dated June 8, 2018, included 3 VIP tickets, and was made out to the Bentleigh East branch of the Labor Party.
Consultant Megan Schutz was grilled by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission about Labor fundraisers she attended, which she said were so frequent over the past couple of years it was hard to keep track.
Ms Schutz worked for Mr Woodman, who is alleged to have paid $1.2 million to two Casey councillors in return for favourable planning decisions.
He also paid tens of thousands of dollars in donations to political parties, with almost $160,000 donated to the ALP last term when it seemed they would win the state election.
Ms Schutz said small fundraisers for state MPs give developers and lobbyists direct access to ministers to discuss planning issues.
She told the public hearing that she was able to approach ministers during functions held by Labor fundraising body Progressive Business, and that she was going to so many events in 2017 and 2018 it was hard to keep track.
Ms Schutz was shown an invoice for VIP tickets to a Bentleigh fundraiser last year at the Hellenic Museum, with $8500 to be paid by Mr Woodman.
It was listed as “Dinner with Daniel Andrews” and the invoice was dated June 8, 2018.
Mr Andrews confirmed the event but said Mr Woodman attended many fundraisers and the ALP had declared the contribution.
“That was not a fundraiser that was anything other than appropriately declared,” He said.
“Mr Woodman has made a contribution to the Australian Labor Party, each of those donations have been declared in accordance with the law. “He has attended many events and he has been clear about that, and I have been clear about that.
“Not every event he attends though would I necessarily meet with him or see him. “Sometimes, it is many hundreds of people, but I again make the point that I don’t discuss active planning matters with people that are involved in those planning matters.”
At one lunch at the Flower Drum, revealed by the Herald Sun, Mr Andrews said he did not discuss any planning matters with Mr Woodman and would have walked out if they were raised.
Counsel assisting the commission, Michael Tovey QC, grilled Ms Schutz about fundraisers she attended and whether some MPs were more “friendly” in their approach.
In response, Ms Schutz listed former Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley, former Cranbourne MP Jude Perera, Treasurer Tim Pallas, the premier, and deputy premier James Merlino.
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Ms Schutz said in return for hosting or participating in fundraisers, developers and other interested parties were given access to key members of government to push their causes.
“There’s an opportunity to speak to politicians about something you might want to see them about,” she said.
“You could talk about anything.”
Mr Woodman has been probed by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission over $1.2 million in payments his company or related entities made to two Casey councillors, allegedly in return for favourable decisions and votes on matters that relate to his projects.
The hearing continues.
Originally published as Developer invoiced John Woodman $8.5k for Dan Andrews dinners