Getting into bed with developers

Councils and other levels of government may often have been accused of being “in bed with” building developers. In Wollongong, thats a statement of fact, not merely a metaphor for being corrupt, or at least in a friendly,cosy relationship. Council planner, Beth Morgan, has been the subject of evidence at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry into dodgy dealings involving Wollongong City Council and some developers in that city. Ms Morgan had sexual relationships with 3 developers during a period when she was considering their multi-million dollar developments in her council job.

Now, there’s a whole bunch of slimeballs involved in this saga, but only one will come out of it with her reputation and career prospects completely shattered. No doubt all of the men will lie low for a while and get on with their development businesses. She will never work in planning or local government again. (Nor does she deserve to, but her partners in corruption should also be driven out of their businesses.)

It was quite amusing seeing the men squirm about the extent of their relationships with Ms Morgan during the ICAC hearing. One of them, Frank Vellar, was upfront and admitted he was sleeping with several women while having an affair with Ms Morgan. Another, Michael Kollaras, said he did not have a sexual relationship with Ms Morgan. Asked if he had some sort of a relationship with her in 2004 he replied:

“She was my closest friend.”

Asked how close, he said: “Extremely close.”

The third, Glen Tabak, tried the Bill Clinton angle - remember he did “not have sex with that woman” (Monica Lewinsky). He admitted he had a brief sexual relationship with Ms Morgan, who was married at the time. The affair included liaisons at the Novotel Hotel in Wollongong, Ms Morgan’s home and at Mr Tabak’s office.Asked if he had sex with her at his office, he replied:

“I wouldn’t call it that.”

So a blowjob doesn’t count as sex? Glen Tabak obviously shares that view with Bill Clinton. Wonder if he was into cigar play and blue dresses as well?

The broader issues of corruption and dodgy dealings in this story I’ll post about during the week.