Anti-corruption body that grilled Andrews to release report
Premier Daniel Andrews was questioned by Victoria’s independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission as part of an investigation into allegedly corrupt land deals.
A controversial anti-corruption report following a marathon investigation that saw Premier Daniel Andrews secretly grilled is set to be released next month.
Victoria’s independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission wrote to witnesses caught in Operation Sandon on Thursday informing them the report would be tabled in parliament on July 26.
The setting of the deadline for the release follows a five year investigation into allegedly corrupt land deals involving Casey Councillors and property developer John Woodman.
Operation Sandon has been hit by controversy after a witness, former Casey mayor Amanda Stapledon, took her life in January 2022, three days after her lawyers received IBAC’s draft report.
Ms Stapledon’s friends say the marathon inquiry and her public examination left her humiliated, paranoid and fearful of going to jail.
They have blamed IBAC for her death, and accused the anti-corruption agency of having blood on its hands.
Victoria’s Coroner’s Court linked IBAC’s conduct in Operation Sandon to the 58-year-old’s suicide.
Operation Sandon was also controversial because Mr Andrews was questioned in a private hearing over his association with Mr Woodman, a prolific political donor to both the Labor Party and Liberal Party.
Some witnesses have questioned why the premier was afforded the protection of a private hearing while suburban Councillors were grilled in public.
Mr Andrew’s’ secret testimony only emerged when The Australian revealed he had been privately examined. The premier was questioned at length about this dealings with Mr Woodman and whether he had been given the businessman’s mobile phone.
The July 26 release date is expected to trigger a flurry of last minute legal action from witnesses as they fight to prevent the report being made public.
In a statement to witnesses on Thursday, IBAC said, it was releasing the date of the report’s tabling because it had emerged in legal proceedings.
“The independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) intends to table its Operation Sandon special report in parliament on Wednesday 26 July, 2023.
“IBAC’s Operation Sandon was an investigation into allegations of serious corrupt conduct in planning and property decisions at the City of Casey Council.
“IBAC would not normally provide such a long period of notice of its intent to table a special report, however IBAC has recently been required to disclose this date in the course of court proceedings. “
IBAC also said it was giving witnesses a month’s notice to ensure the well being of witnesses.
“in consideration of the wellbeing of all persons involved in this long-running investigation, we wanted to write to you to provide this information directly,” IBAC said.
“We will contact you again closer to the tabling date to confirm its publication, or in the event the tabling date of the report changes.
“IBAC is mindful that this may be a stressful period for you,” IBAC stated, before referring witnesses to witness welfare services.
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