IBAC: Claim Daniel Andrews did speak to developer John Woodman about planning issues
The Premier has previously denied speaking to developer John Woodman about planning matters, but the statement has been contradicted.
Victoria
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A claim by Premier Daniel Andrews that he never spoke about planning matters with a developer embroiled in a corruption scandal has been contradicted in an IBAC hearing.
Lobbyist Philip Staindl told the hearing on Wednesday that developer John Woodman discussed planning delays over one of his Point Cook developments with Mr Andrews at a September 2015 dinner function.
It comes despite Mr Andrews saying of Ferrari-driving multi-millionaire Mr Woodman last December: “He has never raised active planning matters with me - if he had I would have stood up and left.”
Labor-linked lobbyist Mr Staindl was being quizzed as part of a probe into alleged planning rorts involving Mr Woodman and Casey Council.
Mr Staindl said: “Just as the Premier was departing, Mr Woodman shook his hand, said ‘nice to see you and I’ve got some frustrations with Aviator’s Field’. It wasn’t a formal meeting but yes it was a quick chat about it.”
Counsel assisting, Michael Tovey QC, suggested Mr Staindl facilitated the conversation because “if there was one person that could possibly do something about the impasse that had been reached, it was the Premier.”
Mr Staidl conceded: “Yes, that is a fair representation.”
Mr Tovey highlighted that “the Point Cook matter’’ then had a greater government focus, as “Mr Woodman tried to jump the queue’’.
“After that initial representation, or series of representations to the Premier and the Premier’s office in September 2015, they have up taken an interest in it that had been pursued,’’ Mr Tovey said.
Mr Staindl said he could not recall exactly who in the Premier’s office he dealt with but “it would have been the adviser with responsibility for planning matters”.
In further evidence, Mr Staindl said he had briefed staff in Mr Andrews’ office about the Aviator’s Field development ahead of the function — a “Sandbelt MP’s’’ dinner.
The hearing was also told that Mr Woodman had paid $8500 for a private lunch at the Flower Drum with Mr Andrews in Septemeber 2017.
Mr Woodman was the highest auction bidder at a “Greek MP’s’’ fundraising event for the intimate audience with the Premier at the Chinese restaurant.
The controversial developer and his “commercial interests’’ team dined with Mr Andrews.
Mr Staindl, one of seven people at the lunch, said no planning issues were raised by Mr Woodman at that meeting.