The NSW corruption commission has closed an investigation into a planning official accused of seeking personal financial gain from a controversial state government housing policy, saying there’s no evidence of corruption.
Opposition MP Alister Henskens first raised the allegations under parliamentary privilege on February 8, when he claimed an unnamed planning official used confidential information about the Transport Orientated Development (TOD) program for personal gain and attempted to draw neighbours into a “web of corruption to become part of a criminal conspiracy to trade on inside information”.
He again used parliamentary privilege last Thursday to name the official as DPHI Director Katie Joyner.
In a statement on Monday the corruption commission confirmed it had received allegations concerning Ms Joyner on February 9 from Mr Henskens, and that the Cabinet Office had also notified it of the allegations.
The Commission is satisfied there is no evidence that Ms Joyner or any other person engaged in corrupt conduct, and has accordingly determined to close its investigation.
NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption
The allegations were that Ms Joyner had misused information about the scheme, acquired in her official functions, for her own financial benefit by buying a property within an affected area.
ICAC also examined whether Ms Joyner had engaged corrupt conduct by suggesting other landowners in the area “band together” and sell their properties for financial gain.
“The Commission is satisfied there is no evidence that Ms Joyner or any other person engaged in corrupt conduct, and has accordingly determined to close its investigation,” it said.
The ICAC said it reached the conclusion after reviewing relevant records and timelines, conducting interviews and forensically examining electronic devices.
It said Ms Joyner’s lawyer, the Cabinet Office and the DPHI have been advised of the outcome of its investigation.
Parliamentary inquiry to continue
However, a parliamentary inquiry into the TOD will continue despite the ICAC’s finding, for Upper House Planning and Environment Committee Chair Sue Higginson said.
“The announcement from ICAC that they have finished their review of a planning official accused of corruption by Alastair Henskens will not impact the inquiry into the proposed planning changes of the Minns Labor Government,” Ms Higginson told Government News.
“I look forward to reading the submissions to this inquiry and finding out how we can build a better system than what appears to be the haphazard, developer-led approach to more housing.”
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