PUBLIC hearings being undertaken by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) into allegations of serious corrupt conduct concerning planning decisions at Casey Council, will be closed to the public because of COVID-19.
The commissioner for IBAC, The Honourable Robert Redlich QC, has taken the decision to bar the public from tomorrow (Monday 16 March) “as a precautionary measure in consideration of public health”.
The public can freely watch the hearings online as they are streamed each day on the IBAC website www.ibac.vic.gov.au.
Transcripts will continue to be shared on the website.
The hearings are being held at the Fair Work Commission premises and are expected to run for another two weeks.
The activities of Mornington-based Watsons Pty Ltd and associated companies Wolfdene Built Pty Ltd and Schutz Consulting Pty Ltd have been central to the IBAC hearings.
Operation Sandon began last November and information has already been sent to IBAC regarding the $650 million Martha Cove development at Safety Beach.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is also reviewing all past decisions made on planning requests from developer Watson director John Woodman, Wolfdene Built and Schutz Consulting.
