Released emails detail Dan’s contact Woodman

Emails reveal details of Dan Andrews’ contact with the developer at the centre of explosive corruption hearings.

Ferrari-driving developer John Woodman told Premier Daniel Andrews a charity golf event organised in his honour would be filled with figures from the property development industry, new emails have shown.

The released documents provide new detail on the contact between the two men, which was one of the topics examined by the state’s anti-corruption body’s probe into allegations of dodgy land deals and close ties between politicians and developers.

But the publication of further correspondence requested from the Premier’s Private Office, has been refused on technical grounds.

Emails released to the Victorian parliament after a motion by the state opposition show discussions between Mr Andrews and Mr Woodman about organising a golf event in November 2017.

The idea was the brainchild of the now-embattled property developer and came after a meeting with the premier at the Flower Drum restaurant.

The event was named after Mr Andrews and he attended and handed out a trophy while more than $400,000 was raised for the Monash Children’s Hospital.

When questioned about the event and the developer in the past, Mr Andrews has maintained he never discussed individual planning matters and acted appropriately at all times.

Developer John Woodman’s link to senior politicians was at the centre of bombshell corruption hearings. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Since then, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission has investigated Mr Woodman’s relationship with politicians and planning decisions made by the state and Casey Council.

Known as Operation Sandon, fundraising events and party donations have also been discussed and a lawyer for Mr Woodman told the public hearings that some politicians were “more friendly than others”.

Among those believed to be interviewed by IBAC is the Premier, who is understood to have been questioned about his ties to Mr Woodman and whether they had exchanged phone numbers.

In one email released on Friday, and dated back to December 2016, Mr Woodman spelled out the rules of the event for the Premier and said the property industry would make up most of the attendance.

“At the lunch we would request you provide a 20-minute speech regarding the new hospital and Victoria at large,” he wrote.

“The event will predominantly be attended by representatives from the property development industry and they will be very keen to hear your comments and overview regarding the future of property development in Victoria.

“Again thank you for your offer to participate and we look forward to discussing this exciting project further in the near future.”

In response, Mr Andrews thanked Mr Woodman and said he would attend.

“I am pleased to support this important cause and would be delighted to join you for lunch on the Monash Children’s Hospital Golf Day to be held on November 17,” he said.

“Thank you again for your letter, I look forward to being involved in this great initiative.”

A year later, Mr Andrews was invited to attend the event again although it was acknowledged it would coincide with the 2018 campaign.

“We realise that next year’s event is in the state election month and hence you are unavailable for the trophy presentation but believe that conducting the charity event will again raise valuable monies and awareness of this great facility,” he wrote.

“Again thank you for your participation in the 2017 event and we look forward to discussing your involvement in the 2018 event in the near future.”

A government spokeswoman said: “We won’t take lectures from the opposition on releasing documents when Matthew Guy refuses to release emails relating to his secret deal to dodge donation laws”.

The opposition’s leader in the Legislative Council David Davis had also requested all emails between the Premier’s Private Office and Mr Woodman.

But these were refused under parliament rules that do not allow the upper house to compel the release of documents from lower house MPs.

Woodman told Daniel Andrews a charity golf event organised in his honour would be filled with figures from the property development industry. Picture: David Geraghty

This is so that one house of parliament cannot control the other.

“It is clear Premier Daniel Andrews is going to fight the release of the secret Woodman documents in his office,” Mr Davis said.

“If he has nothing to hide he should have nothing to fear.

“These documents could be released today, rather than tortured claims that documents in his possessions are not amenable to production before the House.”

Mr Davis said the emails showed the pair were “very close mates”.

“The correspondence held by the department that has been released shows a palsy-walsy, matesy relationship between Mr Woodman and Mr Andrews,” he said.

“Woodman clearly has direct access to Mr Andrews’ executive assistant.

“The corruption commission should have its powers restored that Andrews stripped so that it can hold open public hearings.”

Originally published as Released emails detail Dan’s contact Woodman