Melbourne Mayor Accused of Receiving Drugs for Favors in Corruption Probe

In a significant development alleging corruption within a local council, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) has unveiled findings implicating a Melbourne city mayor. Cameron Nation, who served as the mayor of Moonee Valley City Council, has been accused of misusing his position to provide favors for associates in exchange for cocaine, IBAC reported.

The investigation, which has been ongoing since May 2023, focused on Mr. Nation’s alleged acceptance of drugs as bribes to influence council decisions. This probe, known as Operation Leo, was tabled in the Victorian parliament on Wednesday, revealing that several councillors, including Nation, bypassed formal processes and disclosed confidential information in a manner that broke public trust.

Evidence presented by the anti-corruption body found that in March 2021, an associate contacted Mr. Nation regarding a parking complaint outside a business linked to a construction manager. Mr. Nation’s response suggested a quid pro quo arrangement, where he offered to “sort out” the parking issue in exchange for cocaine, referring to it using the slang “cheek.” Subsequently, his partner collected cocaine from the construction manager’s residence.

Mr. Nation, who has since resigned from his position on March 26, 2024, initially denied the arrangement. However, when confronted with text message evidence, he admitted that they reflected a “clear offer of assistance in exchange for cocaine.” Furthermore, Mr. Nation was implicated in influencing a planning application related to a townhouse development in exchange for drugs.

The investigation also touched upon allegations of a bribery scheme involving the Essendon Royals Soccer Club. Although no direct monetary transactions were confirmed, discussions of potential bribes, ranging from $15,000 to $50,000, among Mr. Nation and two unnamed councillors were highlighted.

Besides Mr. Nation, current Deputy Mayor Narelle Sharpe and Councillor Jacob Bettio were identified as having utilized their positions to sway council decisions favorably towards the soccer club. This preferential treatment came at the detriment of other local sports organizations and community interests.

IBAC Commissioner Victoria Elliott commented on the seriousness of these findings, stating, “When councillors misuse their positions as elected officials, they undermine a council’s effectiveness and erode the community’s trust in their local government.”

The report detailed further inducements accepted by council members, such as paid dinners, free memberships, and special event invitations from the soccer club, which solidified concerns about ethical governance at the council.