Former Moonee Valley major Cam Nation received drugs for influence, IBAC report finds

IBAC also received evidence of Nation inquiring with council staff on the progress of a planning application for the development of townhouses submitted by the construction manager, again in exchange for drugs.

“In June 2021, the construction manager messaged Mr Nation, stating: ‘Can u (sic) check where it is at please … I will fix u up … 7 (grams) of the best,’” the report says.

In another message about the parking issue, Nation wrongly claims credit for also getting a graffiti removal notice for the premises withdrawn.

“Can’t believe I’m that efficient. Gold medal standard, that and the graffiti. “God status.”

In another example, Nation was assisting the construction manager to obtain planning approvals and permits required to build a shop on vacant land. The report includes a message from Nation to the construction manager stating: “…still waiting for planning to tell me how we can get around things. Need to talk to them in person so no paper trail.”

While IBAC did not find evidence that the vacant land was developed as intended, it noted that Nation’s “reference to a ‘paper trail’ demonstrates an intentional attempt to conceal his involvement in the matter by avoiding a written record of his conversations to MVCC planning staff.”

Nation served as mayor of Moonee Valley council from October 2020 to October 2021.

The report also named two other councilors working with Nation – current Deputy Mayor Narelle Sharpe and councilor Jacob Bettio – as having used their positions to influence council decisions in favor of the Essendon Royals Soccer Club (ERSC) “at the expense of other local sporting groups and the wider municipality”, and having received undeclared gifts from the club.

The construction manager Nation was found to have given preferential treatment to is an associate of the soccer club’s president, IBAC said.

“These councilors consciously engaged in voting on MVCC matters related to the ERSC, despite receiving undeclared hospitality from the ERSC, and they actively sought to secure votes to grant the ERSC exclusive access to Cross Keys Reserve and Pavilion, outside of formal MVCC meetings.”

The findings come on the eve of local council elections. Bettio and Sharpe are running for council spots again this month. Nation resigned from the council in March earlier this year and is not running again.

The Age first revealed last year that the corruption agency had seized the phones of four Moonee Valley councilors – Nation, Sharpe, Bettio and Samantha Byrne – as part of its investigation.

Byrne was not named in the final report.

Nation and Bettio and the Essendon Royals Soccer Club have been contacted for comment.

Sharpe said in a statement that the report “clears my name in regards to bribery and corruption” and expressed gratitude that the report had been tabled.

More to eat.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.