Daniel Andrews grilled by anti-corruption watchdog over links to property developer

Daniel Andrews is facing renewed calls to stand down after revelations the anti-corruption watchdog secretly grilled him for a second time.

Daniel Andrews will come under increased pressure to stand down amid revelations he has been secretly grilled in a second anti-corruption probe.

The Premier has been quizzed over his association with property developer John Woodman, who is under investigation for allegedly corrupt land deals, The Australian reports.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission has now called Mr Andrews twice for private integrity hearings.

Last week it was revealed Mr Andrews had been questioned in private over claims of widespread corruption within the Victorian Labor Party.

He has persistently refused to comment on his involvement with that probe, which found wrongdoing and the likely misuse of publicly funded staff across Labor’s factions.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, who called for the Premier to stand down last week, on Friday repeated the demand.

“Daniel Andrews needs to do the decent thing and stand aside until IBAC hands down its report,” he said.

“Today we are seeing more troubling developments. Did the Premier ask IBAC to give his evidence in secret? Other witnesses weren’t afforded that privilege — what’s he got to hide?

“Victoria cannot afford to have a Premier mired in a corruption crisis as it seeks to recover and rebuild.

“He needs to stand aside until this stench of corruption can be cleared up once and for all.”

In the latest hearings, Mr Andrews was questioned about his association with Ferrari-driving property developer John Woodman, and whether the Premier had been given his phone number.

Developer John Woodman. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The IBAC probe appears interested in whether there is a connection between Mr Woodman and Mr Andrews, who have attended the same political fundraising functions.

IBAC does not comment publicly on private hearings and Mr Andrews has previously denied any association with Mr Woodman.

Operation Sandon has investigated allegedly corrupt land deals between Mr Woodman and Casey councillors in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs.

The probe was hit by controversy in January this year when former Casey mayor Amanda Stapledon committed suicide just days after receiving her draft ­report from IBAC.

Ms Stapledon was found dead a day after the IBAC finalised a report for the state parliament on the long-running investigation.

Ms Stapledon was mayor of City of Casey in 2018, and told IBAC she had met Mr Woodman before being elected to the role.

She told IBAC she had received a $25,000 donation from Mr Woodman to run for state parliament as a Liberal candidate in 2014.

Mr Woodman has claimed the donation was requested by Ms Stapledon, but the former mayor maintained that the cash was ­“offered” by the developer.

A complaint to the parliament’s Integrity and Oversight Committee prompted a performance audit of IBAC’s witness welfare management.

It alleged Ms Stapledon had expressed suicidal ideations as early as April last year following her public examination by IBAC.

Read The Australian’s full story here.