The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) recently handed down its report into allegations of corrupt conduct involving councillors and property developers within Casey council.
Now, eyes are being cast onto local councils across Victoria to consider the recommendations handed down in the Operation Sandon report, which includes a recommendation for a public register of interactions between councillors and developers.
Brimbank council director of people, planning and performance, Georgie Hill said Brimbank council has future plans to consider the recommendations handed down by IBAC.
“While Brimbank council currently does not have a register of councillor interactions with developers, in the coming months we will be considering future governance arrangements in light of the Operation Sandon report and associated directions from Local Government Victoria,” she said.
In a statement issued by Premier Daniel Andrews, the state government is set to strip local councils of some of their planning powers in order to combat corruption between developers and councillors.
“The IBAC report’s 34 recommendations will be given appropriate consideration, but it is the clear position of the government that the role of local councils in significant planning decisions should be reduced and we will have more to say on this matter,” read the statement.
