Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council - allegations concerning directors of the Board and others (Operation Skyline)

On Friday 5 March 2021, the Chief Commissioner, the Hon Peter Hall QC, made the following ruling and directions in relation to the conduct of the public inquiry:
1)    That the public hearings of the Commission for the taking of evidence has now concluded.
2)    That closing submissions proceed in accordance with the following timetable:
a)     The written submissions of Counsel Assisting the Commission and Corruption Prevention be served on or before 16 April 2021.
b)    The written submissions of any person authorised to appear at the public inquiry be lodged with the Commission and served upon each of the other persons authorised to appear on or before 4 pm on 14 May 2021. Any submissions in reply should be no more than 50 pages in length, font size 12 and 1.5 spacing.
c)    The written submissions by any person authorised to appear at the public inquiry in relation to the written submissions of any other person authorised to appear at the public inquiry be lodged with the Commission and served on such persons within 21 days of the date of service of the written submissions to which the reply submissions respond.

The ICAC is investigating allegations concerning the Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC), including whether any public official, being a Awabakal LALC Board director, acted dishonestly and/or in breach of their duty as a Board member in relation to a scheme involving proposals from 2014 to 2016 for the sale and development of properties (“the Sale and Development Scheme”) owned by the land council.

The Commission is also investigating whether any Awabakal LALC Board director acted dishonestly and/or in breach of their duty as a Board member in purporting to retain, or retaining, Knightsbridge North Lawyers or anyone else to act for the land council in respect of the Sale and Development Scheme.

Further, the ICAC is investigating whether any Awabakal LALC Board director: acted dishonestly and/or in breach of their duty as a Board member by participating in, or aiding or assisting any person in relation to, the Sale and Development Scheme including dealings with Sunshine Property Investment Group Pty Ltd, Sunshine Warners Pty Ltd, Solstice Property Corporation Pty Ltd and Advantage Property Experts Syndications Pty Ltd and/or Advantage Property Syndications Ltd; and whether they received any financial or other benefits as a reward or payment for their involvement in, or for their assistance or services rendered in relation to, the Sale and Development Scheme or any connected matter.

The Commission is also examining whether any person or persons encouraged or induced any Awabakal LALC Board director to dishonestly or partially exercise any of their official functions in respect of the Sale and Development Scheme and any other land council property, or otherwise engaged in conduct connected with corrupt conduct within the meaning of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988.

Operation Skyline Ruling on Application to discontinue pursuant to s 20(3) of the ICAC Act

Operation Skyline Ruling on Bias and Denial of Procedural Fairness application

Annexure to Operation Skyline Ruling on Bias and Denial of Procedural Fairness application

Operation Skyline - opening address

Operation Skyline - opening address - documents