Operation Galley public notice

Wednesday 25 May 2022

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) will hold a public inquiry starting Tuesday 14 June 2022 as part of an investigation it is conducting concerning the conduct of former Georges River Council (GRC) and Hurstville City Council (HCC) Councillors, Constantine Hindi and Vincenzo (Vince) Badalati, and then HCC Councillor Philip Sansom (Operation Galley).

The Commission is investigating whether, between 2014 and 2021, then HCC and later GRC Councillors Hindi and Badalati, and then HCC Councillor Sansom, sought and/or accepted benefits as an inducement or reward for partially and dishonestly exercising their official functions to favour the interests of Ching Wah (Philip) Uy, Wensheng Liu and Yuqing Liu, in relation to planning matters affecting 1-5 Treacy Street, and 1 Hill Road, Hurstville (“the Treacy Street development”); and 53-57 Forest Road, 108-126 Durham Street and 9 Roberts Lane, Hurstville (“the Landmark Square development”). The Commission is also examining whether, during that period, Councillors Hindi, Badalati and Sansom deliberately failed to declare or properly manage any conflict of interest arising from their relationships with Mr Uy, Wensheng Liu and Yuqing Liu.

The Commission is further investigating whether, also between 2014 and 2021, Mr Uy, Wensheng Liu and Yuqing Liu provided benefits, including overseas flights and accommodation, to Councillors Hindi, Badalati and Sansom, as a reward or inducement to favour their interests in relation to Council decisions regarding planning matters affecting the Treacy Street and Landmark Square developments.The general scope and purpose of the public inquiry is to gather evidence relevant to the matters being investigated for the purpose of determining the matters referred to in section 13(2) of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988.

Please note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the interests of public health and safety, the ICAC premises will not be open for public attendance. The proceedings will be live streamed via the Commission’s website at www.icac.nsw.gov.au.

Persons claiming to be substantially and directly interested in this matter may seek leave to be represented at the inquiry, and are invited to contact Anthony Baine no later than 4:00 pm on Wednesday 9 June 2022 via email at [email protected] to advise of their interest.
Members of the public with information relevant to the investigation are encouraged to provide it in writing at GPO Box 500, Sydney, NSW 2001, or by email to [email protected].

The ICAC will treat all information confidentially and has legislative powers to protect people who provide information to the Commission.

Roy Waldon
Solicitor to the Commission