Developer John Woodman bragged about having access to Premier Daniel Andrews

A developer at the centre of explosive corruption hearings was secretly recorded saying he would “go to the top’’ to sort his planning issues.

Premier Daniel Andrews was “waxing lyrical” about donations made to the Labor Party by the developer at the centre of serious corruption allegations, an IBAC hearing has heard.

In a phone-tapped conversation, Labor-linked lobbyist Philip Staindl told developer John Woodman that Mr Andrews intended to phone him directly.

“He was just going to give you a call to basically say things are OK but also to thank you for your support,’’ Mr Staindl said in the call.

“He started waxing lyrical about how much you had given to the party.’’

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: Getty

Recorded conversations played at the IBAC hearing also revealed Mr Woodman believed he “could go to the top’’ to pressure Premier Daniel Andrews over planning issues.

A taped phone-call revealed the influence the Ferrari driving millionaire believed he had.

“If we get pushed back on this thing I will go to the top,’’ Mr Woodman said about his efforts to have land in Melbourne’s south east rezoned from industrial to residential.

Counsel assisting Michael Tovey said it was proof of Mr Woodman’s belief in his ability “to exert pressure on a planning matter’’.

“His expectation that he could go to the top … would appear to have been born of the fact he felt that the Premier would owe him some sense of obligation because of his support for the party,’’ he said.

“For the lunches they’ve had, the dinner together, for his support of Progressive Business.’’

In the same conversation, Mr Woodman offered $20,000 in political donations to Labor political candidates, including current Cranbourne MP Pauline Richard.

He also paid $3000 for billboards to promote Ms Richard as the Labor candidate.

Mr Staindl, grilled for the fourth day straight at the probe into alleged planning related corruption, tried to hose down Mr Woodman’s sway with Mr Andrews.

“He certainly met the Premier on a few occasions but I would not agree that there would be an expectation he would intervene based on his financial support,’’ he said.

Ibac Hearing

In one secret recording, Mr Staindl claimed that he asked Mr Andrews if he was aware land rezoning at the heart of the inquiry had been “torpedoed’’.

He claimed Mr Andrews said the government had “no choice’’ due to media reports about the issue.

Another conversation between the developer and Mr Staindl revealed Woodman offered former Narre Warren South Labor MP Judith Graley a job while she was still in parliament.

Mr Tovey said the offer at a time Graley was being used as “a negotiator’ ’ for Woodman’s team to lobby Planning Minister Richard Wynne over a land rezoning application “smacks very much of a bribe.’’

“You’re offering a sitting parliamentarian who has been advocating in favour of your commercial interests basically any job she can think of that she wants with you,’’ Mr Tovey said.

Mr Staindl said: “I considered her a good political friend.’’

It comes as planning Minister Richard Wynne admitted attending a string of functions and forums with Mr Woodman.

Mr Wynne in March said: “On all occasions when I have been involved in Progressive Business events an independent probity auditor has been part of all those conversations.’’

But a Freedom Of Information request failed to uncover any probity auditor reports for 12 Progressive Business events attended by Mr Wynne between 2016 and 2018.

The Office of the Victorian Information Commission revealed that on one occasion Mr Wynne was accompanied by a probity auditor “engaged by Progressive Business”.

Progressive business held about 10 “business engagement functions” in 2019, with Woodman forking out $50,000 to be a “platinum” member.

A government spokesperson said it was “absolutely ridiculous to suggest it would be in any way appropriate for the Minister to have a public servant attend or be involved in a political party’s fundraising event at the expense of the Victorian taxpayer”.

Opposition leader Michael O’Brien said it was “a massive conflict of interest’’.

“The same Labor fundraising arm that accepts donations from dodgy developer John Woodman is also responsible for ensuring the probity of Labor ministers and Labor donors,” he said.

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