Two Mercedes-Benz cars drove towards the dusky-pink Randwick Town Hall in Sydney on September 28 last year and parked around the corner, outside the entrance to Randwick City Council offices. Media empire heir James Packer was in the metallic-grey Mercedes driven by his right-hand man, Theo Onisforou. Ahead of them, in the red Mercedes, was their architect, Graham Humphrey. They had come to talk to Chris Bastic, the mayor of Randwick City Council.

Bastic says everyone who puts in a building application to council wants to meet him. He was joined by three council officers. Then plans drawn up for a Packer company, Formscan, to develop 25 stylish townhouses in the eastern suburbs, were rolled out before him.