'Just boys being boys' The CCC report uncovered Mr Peacock's role in arranging a trip to a geisha bar in Tokyo's expensive and historic red-light district Yoshiwara for two visiting Liberal MPs. In 2015, while he was en route to Japan, former MP Phillip Edman messaged Mr Peacock saying he wanted to go to a geisha bar and that "the boys are sexually frustrates [sic]". "Never had Japanese honey before," another message from Mr Edman said. Mr Peacock replied: "Leave it with me".

"OK mate, I will need to consult with Hashimoto [a part-time employee in WA's Tokyo office] on this but he is ultra-discreet, nothing to worry about", he wrote. Both Mr Edman and Mr Ellis gave evidence they went to a bathhouse, but the purpose was to bathe and have a traditional Japanese massage from a Japanese geisha. They denied asking for or receiving sexual services. In evidence to the CCC, Mr Edman explained the text messages as "just boys being boys". Mr Peacock used trade commission staff and paid the taxi fares of the men when they visited the bathhouse.

Former Liberal MPs Brian Ellis and Phil Edman. Credit:Twitter/@bellis16 A text message exchange between Mr Peacock and Mr Hashimoto indicated Mr Hashimoto arranged a fixed price of 70,000 yen per person (about $700) at the bathhouse. The CCC report said both men "vehemently denied that they were seeking sexual services". Mr Ellis told the commission he suffers from a bad back and often has massages while he travels. But the report said Mr Peacock believed the messages were a genuine request.

"Mr Peacock engaged a state employee to make arrangements for a visit to a brothel (as he thought was the purpose)," the report said. "On Mr Peacock's understanding of the excursion, he acted improperly to benefit Mr Edman and Mr Ellis." Double-dipping wine master Despite being paid more than $100,000 on a level eight public servant salary, the commission found Mr Peacock received cost-of-living allowances twice, once through his employing department and a second time from his Tokyo office bank account. Those payments occurred from December 2008 to January 2018 and totalled nearly $500,000.

The commission also found he instructed his office manager to reimburse him more than $46,000 in utility and $19,000 in storage fees, despite knowing he was not contractually allowed to do so. Even the contents page is eye-opening. Credit:CCC Mr Peacock crashed his office’s car into a stationary truck while intoxicated in May 2011, causing $17,500 worth of damage. He was arrested and spent 48 hours in a police cell. The commission said he failed to tell the department and tried to hide repair costs as an ‘end-of-lease payment’. Mr Peacock’s lavish taxpayer-funded lifestyle was also laid bare.

The CCC report details his membership of the Beefsteak and Burgundy club, Tokyo branch. The club revolves around the ‘appreciation of good food and wine’ and Mr Peacock served as the Tokyo branch’s wine master for nearly 13 years. The commission alleges Mr Peacock charged taxpayers for his membership and dining expenses. Between December 2015 and May 2018 he claimed about $6400 in expenses from the club. Mr Peacock argued the expenses were related to networking, but the commission uncovered no evidence or diary notes to suggest that was the case. Mr Peacock has not paid taxes in Australia or Japan since 1993, the commission found.

The commission said Mr Peacock told the Department of Premier and Cabinet that because he was an official passport holder he had paid tax in Japan, which they said was not correct. He also obtained a private ruling from the Australian Tax Office to not pay tax in Australia so he has not paid any pay-as-you-go deductions. Lack of scrutiny sparks criticism The finances of his office of ‘seven or eight’ employees was overseen by the Department of Premier and Cabinet up until 2017 when it was transferred to the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. The department drew criticism from the commission for allowing Mr Peacock's conduct to go unchecked for so long.

Craig Peacock. Credit:Internet. The investigation was triggered by a Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation whistleblower. Despite the serious nature of its findings, the commission said the investigation was not exhaustive. "It focused on a period of around two years which proved sufficient for the commission to form an opinion of serious misconduct," it said. "The investigation also raises many questions about Mr Peacock’s dereliction over many years, including how his conduct went undetected by the Department of Premier and Cabinet for such a long time and the way in which the network of commissioners is supervised and their financial accounts validated."

It said Mr Peacock was now paying the price, and issued a warning to other public officers. "Taxation authorities in Japan and Australia may take an interest in his finances; he is jobless, without a Japanese visa and without prospects," the commission said. "Public officers, before setting out on the road of corruption, may be wise to consider where the journey ends." Premier shocked and appalled, commences recovery action Premier Mark McGowan said the government had commenced recovery proceedings against Mr Peacock and frozen his assets.