The Labor donations included money generated at a March 2014 fundraiser at Crown Casino for Mr Perera and two other south-eastern Labor MPs,Ms Graley and Andrews government Attorney-General Martin Pakula. Mr Pakula said he never lobbied about the Cranbourne West rezoning.
The fundraiser was organised by Phil Staindl,a well-connected lobbyist and Labor activist whose clients include Watsons and who confirmed helping Mr Woodman on the Cranbourne West rezoning push.
Ms Graley,who is retiring this election,confirmed she received thousands of dollars from Watsons in her time as an MP,including at the fundraiser at Crown in 2014.
Judith Graley says as a retiring MP her records have been shredded.Credit:Chad Van Estrop
She said she thought she recalled writing to Casey council to support the Leighton rezoning after being contacted by residents opposed to industry on the Cranbourne West site. The Leighton/Kelly land is not in Ms Graley’s electorate.
However,she said she would have trouble checking her records because,as an outgoing MP she had disposed of 12 years of paperwork. “I have to check my records which I’ve shredded,” Ms Graley said.
Labor MPs and insiders say Watsons is a regular and generous donor,especially at election time. “Watsons has contributed to lots of campaigns and lots of MPs,” said Ms Graley.
The company is also an active member of Labor fund-raising body,Progressive Business.
Through lawyers,Mr Woodman confirmed that he was a donor to both parties “in support of their policies and better government”.
Loading
“Mr Woodman notes that political donations are made to both political parties by a diverse range of donors from many walks of life and industries. These donations are an important part of resourcing the election campaign process,” he said.
He strongly denied any “inappropriate donations”.
Currently donations of any amount are legal andThe Sunday Age does not suggest otherwise.
When Leighton first proposed the rezoning in 2014 Casey council opposed it. In 2015 after the state election,the council backflipped and backed the rezoning.
Important to the council’s rationale for the change of heart was the local community campaign against industrial use of the Leighton/Kelly land,waged by the Save West Cranbourne Residents Group,established in 2014/2015.
Mr Perera - who is also retiring - confirmed he had written to Mr Wynne in support of the Leighton rezoning after being approached by the residents group and by Woodman’s close associate,planning consultant and lawyer,Megan Schutz. At various stages of the rezoning process Ms Schutz has represented both Leighton and the Kelly family.
The Sunday Age has confirmed that Leighton funded the residents group.
Last monthThe Sunday Agerevealed that Ms Schutz registered the resident group’s website in early 2015.
Consultant Megan Schutz.
The revelations highlight the murky confluence of planning,property,politics and cash in the burgeoning Casey municipality,one of the fastest-growing in Australia,which takes in Cranbourne,Berwick,Clyde and Hallam.
They come afterThe Sunday Agelast month reported concerns among staff at the City of Casey about the influence of developers and other property interests.
Some calls made by councillors this year have been so questionable that the council received legal advice warning it about"unlawful"and “capricious” decision-making.
In January 2017 an independent planning panel backed the rezoning. It was widely anticipated in Casey that Mr Wynne would also support it.
Mr Wynne toldThe Sunday Agethat he had deferred his decision on the rezoning because of concern about a lack of employment opportunities in the Casey area. He said his department was doing more research “to guide industrial land use in the south eastern corridor”.
Lack of jobs is a major problem in Casey where seven out of 10 working residents travel out of the municipality each day for work.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne has deferred a decision on the site.Credit:Pat Scala
Leighton Properties is a subsidiary of former Leighton Holdings which was renamed the CIMIC Group in the wake of international corruption allegations.
A CIMIC spokeswoman said the company would not comment. She would not say why.
In a statement,Mr Pakula said that over the past five and a half years Watsons had attended three fundraisers for him including at Crown Casino.
“Any contributions made by Watsons have been below the relevant disclosure thresholds,” he said.
“Watsons have not sought to have me make representations on their behalf to the Planning Minister or anyone else,and I have not done so.”
Lawyers for Mr Woodman and Ms Schutz have threatened defamation action againstThe Sunday Age.
A written statement on behalf of ALP secretary Sam Rae said:“The Victorian Branch of the Labor Party declares all donations in accordance with the relevant legislation. We expect donors to do the same.”
“The Andrews Labor Government has made historic changes to political donation laws,making them the strictest and most transparent in Australia.”
New rules to take effect next Sunday after this month’s election include a cap on contributions of $4000 over four years for all donors,and the requirement for real-time disclosure for all donations of more than $1000.
Do you know more? Contact us securely viaJournotips