IBAC finds former Moonee Valley mayor received cocaine to wield influence
A former Moonee Valley mayor received cocaine and other kickbacks in exchange for directly influencing council decisions on property-related matters, a bombshell anti-corruption probe has found.
Victoria
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A former mayor in Melbourne’s inner northwest wielded his power to directly influence council decisions in exchange for cocaine and other kickbacks, a bombshell anti-corruption probe has found.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission on Wednesday released its findings into a more than year-long investigation into the scandal-plagued Moonee Valley Council, which exposed how a group of councillors received inducements from a leading local soccer club.
It found that Mr Nation repeatedly received cocaine in exchange to directly influence decisions regarding property-related matters on behalf of the construction manager.
“IBAC found that on multiple occasions between 2020 and 2022, Mr Nation bypassed proper MVCC processes by directly progressing property-related applications and influencing an MVCC decision on behalf of the construction manager. IBAC heard evidence that Mr Nation, on occasion, received cocaine in exchange for his assistance,” one section of the report said.
In one instance, Mr Nation offered to sort out an issue regarding parking at a local business in exchange for drugs.
“(My partner) wants a little bit of cheek (cocaine) … I’ll sort out (street address of the business in the municipality) for it,” according to text messages presented to the investigation.
Evidence shows that Mr Nation’s partner retrieved cocaine from the construction manager’s house the same day, the investigation stated.
In June 2021, Mr Nation tried to fast-track a planning application — submitted by the construction manager — to develop townhouses in the municipality.
The construction manager messaged Mr Nation, stating: “Can u (sic) check where it is at please … I will fix u up … 7 (grams) of the best”.
Later that year, Mr Nation was offered “14 of the best” — a reference to 14 grams of cocaine — in exchange for supporting a planning permit submitted by a relative of the construction manager.
While Mr Nation requested the address of the property, IBAC was unable to determine whether the matter progressed.
The 14 grams of cocaine would have had a street value of about $5000.
Mr Nation said in examinations that the construction manager repeatedly raised having paid councillors in return for favourable votes over text messages.
The payments were estimated to be between $30,000 and $60,000, but IBAC was unable to find evidence substantiating those claims.
In March this year, Mr Nation — who had not been living within the municipality sensationally blindsided colleagues by logging on to a virtual council meeting and resigning with immediate effect.
The investigation — dubbed Operation Leo, which began in May last year — also found that Mr Nation and two other councillors, Narelle Sharpe and Jacob Bettio, used their positions to influence council decisions in favour of the Essendon Royals Soccer Club, which came at the expense of other local sporting groups.
“These councillors consciously engaged in voting on MVCC matters related to the ERSC, despite receiving undeclared hospitality from the ERSC, and they actively sought to secure votes to grant the ERSC exclusive access to Cross Keys Reserve and Pavilion, outside of formal MVCC meetings,” the report stated.
Between 2021 and 2023, IBAC examined events where councillors advocated for preferential decisions for the sporting club. It was alleged a councillor discussed payments from the ERSC between $15,000 and $50,000 in exchange for securing these votes and advocating on behalf of the club.
While IBAC did not find any evidence that MVCC councillors received payments, it found that several MVCC councillors received other inducements, including dinners paid for by the ERSC, free memberships to the ERSC and an invitation to an event.
On Wednesday, IBAC Commissioner Victoria Elliott said the investigation highlighted how decision making within local government can be corrupted.
“There are significant risks associated with councillors misusing their positions for personal advantage and at the expense of the public interest,” Ms Elliott said.
“When councillors misuse their positions as elected officials, they undermine a council’s effectiveness and erode the community’s trust in their local government.”
IBAC recommended that the councillor code of conduct be updated to explicitly state that councillors must report suspected corrupt conduct.
Local Government Minister Melissa Horne appointed municipal monitors to the council at the start of this year. She extended their tenure until February 28 last year.
Originally published as IBAC finds former Moonee Valley mayor received cocaine to wield influence
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