Corruption watchdog opposes bid by developer John Woodman to drop lawsuit

Victoria’s corruption watchdog has opposed a bid by controversial property developer John Woodman to drop legal action over a decision to hold public hearings probing his conduct.

Victoria’s corruption watchdog has opposed a bid by controversial property developer John Woodman to drop a lawsuit over a decision to hold public hearings probing his conduct.

Mr Woodman was examined over six days of public hearings in 2019 as part of an inquiry by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission into allegations of corrupt property deals involving Casey councillors.

Last year he launched legal action against IBAC and the state of Victoria, claiming he had been denied procedural fairness and his reputation was damaged as a result of the hearings.

Developer John Woodman claims the IBAC report into the City of Casey damaged his reputation. Picture: Ian Currie

The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard Mr Woodman had since filed a notice of discontinuance and was seeking a court order to drop the lawsuit.

But the bid was opposed by barrister Peter Hanks KC, acting for IBAC, who claimed the move would prejudice the anti-corruption agency.

“In our submission, the discontinuance would undermine rather than promote the overarching purpose of the civil procedure act,” he said.

“IBAC would be precluded from defending its own interests, the interest of defending the lawfulness and validity of its decision making.”

Mr Hanks said he was instead seeking a summary dismissal which would see Mr Woodman’s claim struck out if the court found it had no chance of success.

John Woodman says IBAC denied him procedural fairness. Picture: Ian Currie

In his statement of claim, Mr Woodman said IBAC had denied him procedural fairness when they failed to notify or allowed him to respond to their decision to host public hearings.

“In the course of his examination, the plaintiff was asked many questions that portrayed him as being complicit in possible corrupt conduct,” it stated.

Mr Woodman’s barrister Gerard Nash KC told the court the claim was “obsolete” as his client’s reputation had already been damaged when the final report of IBAC’s Operation Sandon investigation was tabled in parliament.

Mr Woodman had previously lost a court bid to block the release of the report which was hundreds of pages long and mentioned him 1450 times.

It found Mr Woodman paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to suburban councillors in exchange for support of his projects.

Justice Jacinta Forbes reserved her decision for a later date.