Text messages have linked an adviser to former premier Daniel Andrews to the troubled Gap Road level-crossing removal, the Big Build royal commission has heard.
Counsel assisting Chris Young, KC, this morning said the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA) had only disclosed the existence of text messages on Tuesday.
“Those messages included reference to the PPO, which we understand to be a reference to the premier’s private office, and some named individuals,” Young said.
“Steps are now being taken to secure evidence from those persons. For those reasons, I am not tendering those text messages now, but we will in due course.
“The two individuals are Mr Matthew Toner and Mr Matthew Phelan. Mr Toner was, as we understand it at the time, an adviser to the premier Daniel Andrews. Mr Phelan was the chief of staff to Corey Hannett, the director general of VIDA.”
Phelan’s subsequent role as Allan’s chief of staff when she was premier was not mentioned by Young.
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