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The state’s anti-corruption watchdog will hold public hearings as a part of its investigation of planning and property development decisions at Casey Council.
The hearings are part of an IBAC investigation Operation Sandon into allegations of “serious corrupt conduct” into councillors and property developers in Casey.
IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich QC will preside over the hearings.
He said the hearings will consider whether “public officers” involved in planning decisions were improperly influenced by donations, gifts, pro bono services or “other hospitality”
“These public hearings will examine the transparency and integrity of planning and property development decisions, and whether lobbyists or planning consultants have had undue influence over state and local government planning and property development decisions,” Commissioner Redlich said.
“More broadly, they will consider whether current systems and controls in place are sufficient to ensure the integrity of the planning process, and if serious corrupt conduct is identified, how organisational culture and practices may have fostered that conduct or prevented it from being detected and stopped.”
The hearings start Monday 18 November, 10am at 11 Exhibition Street, Melbourne. They are open to the public.
