Many people are deeply concerned with the networks between developers and politicians and how government departments – like planning- have been ‘captured’ by vested interest of the property development industry.

This post attempts to start listing those involved in this deeply anti-democratic relationship.

If you know a key player who’s playing the ‘DEVELOPERS GAME” let us know and we will add it to this list. Email who you want us to know about at info@foke.org.au

Property Developer Lobbyists

• Former Labour Premier Morris Iemma and former Liberal MP Chris Patterson are the principals for IEMMA PATTERSON PREMIER ADVISORY (IPPA) company
  who is attempting to fast track a housing development in Rosalind Park (Menangle) for some 1450 new homes on 264 hectares which he later received provisional approval from the NSW Department of Planning
  
  IPAA clients seek advice on sites including Kurnell, Marsden Park, Westmead private hospital, Crows Nest
  
  
  
• Tom Forrest, chief executive of Urban Taskforce. Tom Forrest is a longtime acquaintance of Minns through Labor and they were on Iemma’s staff when he was premier. Tom Forrest was Iemma’s chief of staff.
• Stuart Ayres, former Liberal MP for Penrith and CEO of the Urban Development Institute of Australia
• David Borger, Business Western Sydney Executive Director
• Katie Stevenson, Property Council of Australia’s NSW Executive Director 

Members of Parliament

• Chris Minns, NSW Premier
• Paul Scully, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
• Scott Farlow MLC, Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Housing and Cities
• Rose Jackson, Minister for Housing
• Stephen Kamper , Minister for Lands and Property, Minister for Multiculturalism, Minister for Sport, and Minister for Jobs and Tourism

Bureaucrats

• Simon Draper, Secretary to the Premier’s Department
• Kiersten Fishburn, Secretary, Planning Department
• Tom Gellibrand, Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure NSW
• Cherie Burton, senior adviser to Premier Chris Minns; former MP for seat of Kogarah (Chris Minns seat) and former Minister of Housing (during Premier Iemma’s time)
• Paulo Macchia, Director Design, Government Architect NSW
• Iemma’s sons worked on Minns’s staff in 2023. Matthew Iemma was an adviser in the premier’s office, while Luca worked on the electorate staff.

Commissioners

• Peter Achterstraat AM, NSW Productivity and Equality Commissioner
• James Sherrard, NSW Building Commissioner

Developers

• Billbergia Pty Ltd, Iemma Patterson Premier Advisory (IPPA) client
• Decode Administration Pty Ltd, IPPA client
• Built Pty Limited, IPPA client
• Emag Apartments Pty Limited, IPPA client
• The Trustee For Capital Corporation Wahroonga Unit Trust, IPPA client
• Coronation Property Co Pty Ltd, IPPA client
• Payce Consolidated Limited, IPPA client
• Holdmark NSW Pty Ltd
• Deicorp
• Leamac
• Kerry Stokes’ Seven Group Holdings
• Leda Holdings (owned by billionaire Robert Ell)
• Meriton
• Home Apartments (Christian Grahame, chief executive) – multi storey project approved in St Leonards)
  
  

Land owners

• Medich Corporation Pty Ltd, IPPA client
• Boral Shared Business Services Pty Ltd, IPPA client
• Leda Holdings Pty Ltd, IPPA client
• The Owners Of Strata Plan 40417, IPPA client
• Besmaw Pty Limited, IPPA client
• The Trustee For Christie Street Property Trust, IPPA client

Construction/ Development Industry

• Growthbuilt Pty Limited, IPAA client
• Meriton: Kim Samuel, Director Planning and Development

Advisers

• Daryl Patterson, Expert Adviser on Translating Design for Manufactured Products
• The APP Group: Brett Hocking, Chief Executive on Modern Methods of Construction,
• Grove Group: CEO Brenton Grove on Modular Homes
• Urbis: Princess Ventura, Regional Director NSW
• Ironbrook Property Group: Gavin Carrier, CEO

Outdoor Advertisers

• The Trustee For Outdoor Signage Unit Trust No. 3, IPPA client
  
  

References

• Sydney Morning Herald, From leader to lobbyist: How Morris Iemma opens doors for Sydney Property Developers by Michael McGowan, 18 October, 2025 HERE
• The Guardian, Morris Iemma’s lobbying firm does bumper business after Minns’ election as NSW begins planning overhaul by Anne Davies, 18 October 2025 HERE