Developer-lobbyist John Woodman was representing alleged Melbourne mafia boss Antonio Madafferi around the time he dined in a small group with Premier Daniel Andrews at the swanky Flower Drum restaurant in Chinatown.

The Labor fundraising dinner was held in September 2017, the same month The Sunday Age reported that Mr Madafferi, who owned a piece of green-wedge farmland in Melbourne’s south-east, had hired Mr Woodman in a bid to win approval to develop the site.

Antonio Madafferi is a wealthy grocer who police believe is the head of the mafia in Melbourne. He has never been convicted of any crime. Credit:Jason South

As the State Labor government becomes further embroiled in the Casey land deal scandal, Mr Andrews has come under pressure over his interactions with Mr Woodman, the man at the centre of the anti-corruption commission inquiry. The government on Monday confirmed that Mr Andrews was part of a group who dined with Mr Woodman. The function of about 10 people was hosted by Labor’s fundraising arm, Progressive Business.

In September 2017 The Sunday Age revealed how Mr Woodman had fronted Mr Madafferi's bid to redevelop a large "green wedge" property he owns in Keysborough in 2016. Had it succeeded, the move would have generated a windfall of at least $120 million for Mr Woodman and Mr Madafferi.