A former councillor and a property developer consultant have been charged over cash-for-favours allegations, the Victorian public sector watchdog has announced.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission reported that a former City of Casey councillor has been charged with five offences including one count of receiving secret commissions and two counts of misconduct in public office, and misuse of public office.
A consultant involved in the property development sector has been charged with giving secret commissions.
IBAC has not named the people charged and no further comment will be made as the case is now before the courts.
The charges are the result of Operation Sandon – a five-year investigation into allegations of serious corrupt conduct involving hundreds of thousands of dollars linked to planning and property development decisions at the City of Casey council, located in Melbourne’s outer south-east.
Corruption risks exacerbated by limited transparency.
During 40 days of hearings, damning evidence revealed councillors had received “financial and in-kind compensation” in exchange for support of development projects – including rezoning of land to residential status to increase its monetary value. Victorian MPs were also alleged to have received kickbacks in an effort to green-light planning approvals.
In its final report – tabled to parliament in 2023 – IBAC “uncovered a web of well-orchestrated strategies to manipulate City of Casey Council decision-making processes, buy influence and undermine the effectiveness of the Victorian planning system in exchange for certain benefits”.
The report concluded: “Operation Sandon showed how the corruption risks presented by this conduct were exacerbated by the limited transparency and oversight arrangements governing political staff in Victoria.”
In response, the state’s corruption watchdog made 34 recommendations including strengthening councillor codes of conduct and removing councils of their planning powers. IBAC also recommended the government ban donations from property developers.
Both of the accused are expected to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on 25 September 2025.
Leave a Reply