Ex-Labor ministers engaged in ‘serious corrupt conduct’
FORMER NSW Labor ministers Eddie Obeid, Tony Kelly and Joe Tripodi have been found corrupt and could face prosecution.
The report by the Independent Commission Against Corruption recommends the Director of Public Prosecutions considers laying charges against Mr Tripodi, Mr Obeid, Mr Kelly and former Labor staffer Laurie Brown for misconduct in public office.
The report follows an inquiry into the controversial water infrastructure company Australian Water Holdings.
The report found Mr Obeid, Mr Kelly and Mr Tripodi “engaged in serious corrupt conduct in relation to their actions concerning a public-private partnership proposal by Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd which, had it proceeded, could have resulted in substantial financial rewards for that company and the Obeid family”.
The report made no adverse findings against any Liberal figure.
During its Operation Credo, the commission heard evidence that AWH used Sydney Water contract money to deliver water infrastructure in north-west Sydney to splash $10,000 on a football corporate box, hired limousines, spent tens of thousands in Liberal Party donations and that tens of thousands were allegedly paid to a political slush fund.
ICAC cleared former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell over the gift of an undisclosed $3000 bottle of wine from AWH boss Nick Di Girolamo at the time he was lobbying for a $1 billion contract.
The watchdog found “by
July 2008 there was interest in an Obeid family entity acquiring shares in AWH”.
“The commission is satisfied that Edward Obeid Sr used his position as a member of parliament to promote AWH’s interests to a number of ministers and premiers at a time when he knew his family or a family entity could benefit if they acquired shares in the company and the PPP proposal proceeded.”
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The commission is satisfied that Edward Obeid Sr used his position as a member of parliament to promote AWH’s interests to a number of ministers and premiers at a time when he knew that his family or a family entity could benefit. — ICAC report