Nixon probes city

Hamish Heard
Victoria’s top cop has ordered a police probe into Geelong’s council over allegations a council officer demanded bribes in exchange for favourable treatment in a tendering process.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon told the Independent she had assigned senior detectives to investigate a Geelong businessman’s claims of corruption.
In a letter earlier leaked to the paper, Labor federal Member for Corio Gavan O’Connor called on Ms Nixon for police action over the claims.
“The matter concerns allegations that requests were made by a council officer at the City of Greater Geelong for personal financial incentives to be paid in return for favourable consideration in awarding…contracts on major…projects at the City of Greater Geelong,” the letter said.
“The matter is further complicated by…allegations…that (a) company, which has recently been successful in winning (the) contract…is run by an ex-police officer and is employing serving off-duty police officers part-time and is breaching prevailing award wages and conditions in the process.”
It is illegal for serving police officers to undertake paid work outside police duties.
Mr O’Connor told federal parliament in May that a businessman had approached him after “losing a city contract because he refused to grease the palm of some council officer”.
A spokesperson for Ms Nixon confirmed police had initiated the probe after Mr O’Connor’s letter.
“The matter has been allocated to a senior investigator within the Crime Department for attention,” the spokesperson said.
“As the investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
Mr O’Connor this week told the Independent he was “duty-bound” to pass on the allegations to Ms Nixon.
“In this case a local businessman has made serious allegations and after lengthy discussion about the seriousness of the matter and his rights he asked me to proceed in informing police,” Mr O’Connor said.
“I have done so in good faith and I’m confident the matter will be handled with diligence and sensitivity by Victoria Police.”
A City spokesman said council was not aware of the police investigation and would not comment.