Planning Minister Matthew Guy. Credit:Justin McManus A spokeswoman for Mr Guy said in a statement that the minister was told that the developers had not paid to attend the dinners and that Mr Guy has rejected some of their planning applications. ''Of the four projects mentioned by The Age, all were actioned either at the request of a local council or on strong recommendation of the department,'' the spokeswoman said. Leaked Liberal Party emails reveal the dinners were promoted as part of a package in which an ''annual contribution of $10,000'' allows a donor to dine with a minister and provides cheap access to other Liberal events and the chance to host functions. The dinners were held at the historical Rutherglen House city home of business identity Peter Janson and organised by the Liberals' Team 200, a fund-raising arm associated with Prahran MP Clem Newton Brown's electorate. One email states: ''Team 200 and the Patrons' Panel also hold a number of more intimate gatherings, usually involving dinner at a private home or dining room with guest speakers including senior members of the Victorian government.''

Illustration: Ron Tandberg The $10,000 is below the $11,500 threshold at which the identity of donors to political parties has to be disclosed. Mr Clarke, a Liberal stalwart and former Melbourne councillor, stood aside late last year as Places Victoria chairman due to legal action about an unrelated matter. He declined to comment on Monday. Fairfax Media is not suggesting Mr Guy or Mr Clarke were influenced by the donations, but the revelations of developer dinners raise questions about the transparency of the state's planning process. Developer Harry Chua, who attended the 2011 and 2012 dinners, had the height of his apartment tower at 450 Elizabeth Street increased by seven storeys last year after discussions with Mr Guy's department and the Melbourne City Council. As Planning Minister, Mr Guy was responsible for approving Mr Chua's development because it is larger than 25,000 square metres and based in the CBD.

Mr Chua, who did not return calls, is understood to have voiced frustration at the 2012 dinner about a council requirement that his tower be set back further from the street than he had hoped, limiting the number of apartments he could build. City of Melbourne planning documents show Mr Chua's development had in February last year received approval from Mr Guy for 55 storeys. In November Mr Guy announced Mr Chua's tower would be 62 storeys. The seven extra stories came after Mr Guy directed Mr Chua and the council to compromise. The chief executive of Salta Properties Pty Ltd, Sam Tarascio jnr, also attended the 2011 and 2012 fund-raising events. Documents show that after a request from Salta, Mr Guy overturned the Yarra Council and VCAT's rejection of the developer's plan to increase car parking spaces at its seven-storey Burnley apartment project. About the time of the 2011 dinner, Mr Guy used his ministerial powers to increase the number of car parks available in the Burnley development without a planning permit. Mr Tarascio, who did not return calls, has also had applications knocked back by Mr Guy.

Mr Guy also used his ministerial powers to expedite the rezoning of land in Footscray developed by Chinese firm AXF properties, which was represented at the 2011 and 2012 dinners by an executive. Documents show Mr Guy formally intervened in the planning process for the old Kinnears Rope factory site in Footscray in 2011 at the request of the Maribyrnong City Council, which wanted the land rezoned to expedite development. Mr Newton-Brown said on Monday he had had no formal role in Team 200 since being elected in 2010. Mr Newton-Brown said the focus of Team 200 had been widened since his election to support Liberal MPs in marginal seats across Victoria. Loading

"I understand that there are no specific meetings promised as part of the sponsorship, but Team 200 aims to invite the sponsors to several events during the year with various politicians, State and Federal and other leaders to discuss policy and ideas," he said. "There is no charge for any of these events for the sponsors. I try to attend functions for Team 200, Enterprise 500 and other support groups whenever I am able. I expect that I, along with other marginal seat holders, will get support from Team 200 to assist with my election in 2014."