WARRNAMBOOL City councillors and officers were interviewed this week concerning confidential information about a planning application by Midfield Meat being leaked to The Age.
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Two inspectors who visited on Wednesday, Thursday and yesterday, spoke with the seven councillors and several officers on the issue which formed part of the newspaper’s probe into links between Midfield boss Colin McKenna and Premier Denis Napthine.
Other parties are also on the list for questioning.
The Local Government Investigation and Compliance Inspectorate yesterday confirmed officers had visited Warrnambool, but would not divulge specifics except for a broad statement.
“The inspectorate received a complaint relating to the alleged leaking of confidential information,” a spokesman said.
“An investigation is under way to determine whether the Local Government Act has been breached.
“As this is an ongoing investigation no further comments will be made by the inspectorate.”
The probe follows letters from council leaders in May to the inspectorate and Local Government Minister Ted Bull plus a separate letter from three councillors to Mr Bull also seeking an investigation.
Those councillors — Peter Hulin, Brian Kelson and Peter Sycopoulis — confirmed yesterday they spoke with inspectors about the leak and “other issues” on council affairs.
Mayor Michael Neoh also confirmed the investigators had visited. “Leaking of confidential information is a serious issue — if we are aware of it we report it,” he said.
Councillors Hulin, Kelson and Sycopoulis had previously signed statutory declarations denying any involvement in the leaking of a report which had been tabled at a closed council meeting on February 10.
Other councillors also told The Standard in May they had not divulged the information.
At that meeting councillors voted to support an agreement with Midfield for the purchase and transfer of Crown land, then part of the council’s depot, for a proposed Midfield dairy processing factory.
A paragraph in the report read “... the proposed Midfield expansion is a regionally significant project, but also of state significance, given the Premier’s direct involvement”. The report also discussed an option to refer planning approval for the transfer directly to the government.
It sparked allegations of favouritism given that Dr Napthine had been in a large ownership syndicate of a racehorse with Mr McKenna.
Midfield was allocated a $1.5 million grant towards a planned $20m expansion and efficiency upgrade by Midfield.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) looked into the issue and said there was not enough evidence to investigate impropriety. Dr Napthine explained his discussions with Mr McKenna were merely to advise on how to apply for government department assistance.
City council chief executive Bruce Anson told The Standard in May the comment about the Premier’s involvement in the project could have been worded better.