Premier Daniel Andrews has said local councils should have less of a role in "significant planning decisions" in response to the anti-corruption watchdog's damning report of the current planning system.
It follows a five-year investigation into Casey Council, which found developer John Woodman paid $1.2 million to former councillors to ascertain support for his planning proposals.
Those dealings involved former councillors Sam Aziz and Geoff Ablett receiving cash payments in suitcases and shopping bags.
While IBAC found those two councillors directly profited in exchange for support of Woodman's interests, the report said all councillors elected at the time "exhibited and tolerated behaviour that did not meet the standards required of them".
IBAC Acting Commissioner Stephen Farrow said the commission found "safeguards around deciding whether to amend a planning scheme were bypassed"
He said some councillors made "a conscious departure from those standards while other demonstrated a poor understanding of their obligations as elected officials".
"The planning amendments we looked at as part of this operation reached the desks of decision makers in local and state government, without strategic reasons for their implementation," he said.
IBAC has said the investigation has proven how ministers, members of parliament, councillors, ministerial advisers and electorate officers can be targeted by lobbyists, without enough limitations in place.
The commission has made 34 recommendations to the state government to promote transparency in planning decisions, enhance donation and lobbying regulation, and improve the accountability of ministerial advisers.
It has recommended the government create an "Implementation Inter-departmental Taskforce" to enact the changes.
Andrews released a statement this morning saying his government believes "the role of local councils in significant planning decisions should be reduced".
"We will have more to say on this matter," the statement continues.
"What went on at the City of Casey was completely unacceptable and the government sacked the council in 2020.
"However, it is clear from the report that more work must be done.
"The government will consider each of the report's 34 recommendations and respond in due course."
IBAC does not have the power to hold individuals criminally responsible for any misconduct it uncovers.
Farrow said IBAC would present all of its evidence to the Office of Public Prosecutions for them to consider but had not done so yet.
Inquiry told of lunch between premier and developer
Andrews told the inquiry he had lunch with Woodman in 2017 after the developer bid $10,000 for the shared meal at a fundraising event.
Andrews said he did not recall Woodman or his associates raising planning issues with him at the lunch.
IBAC made no adverse findings against the premier.
Andrews is set to publicly speak on IBAC's report this afternoon.
IBAC's investigation began in 2018 and 45 days of public hearings were held in 2019.
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2023-07-27 08:54:45Z
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