Overview

• Premier Chris Minns said it is reasonable for a minister to want thorough and prompt inquiries into council conduct, while noting he has no knowledge of Brett Whitworth’s confidential evidence.
• In in-camera testimony reported publicly, OLG deputy secretary Brett Whitworth alleged Ron Hoenig urged him on five occasions in late 2023 and early 2024 to expedite material for an NCAT case involving former Bayside mayor Bill Saravinovski.
• Whitworth said he protested that such involvement was improper and considered resigning, and he later lodged a public submission stating that preselection timing was raised with him by the minister.
• Hoenig has denied discussing Bayside preselection with Whitworth and said he is not involved in local preselections, adding he knew nothing about a related car park proposal until after an NCAT hearing.
• NCAT reprimanded Saravinovski in February after finding misconduct on three grounds, and he is due in court in November over separate allegations he misled the ICAC on multiple occasions.