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February 21, 2014
Issue 40
Corruption watchdog on the case
Local members withdraw from NSW Parliamentary Liberal Party
erious allegations concerning the Liberal Party on the Central Coast suggest that NSW politics is yet to rid itself of the environment of political corruption that damaged the state under Labor, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
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Member for Wyong Mr Darren Webber
Member for The Entrance Mr Chris Spence
he Member for Terrigal Mr Chris Hartcher, the Member for The Entrance Mr Chris Spence and the Member for Wyong Mr Darren Webber have all voluntarily withdrawn from the NSW Parliamentary Liberal Party until the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) proceedings relating to them are determined.
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The members are still members of Parliament and the Liberal Party, however, they have resigned from the Liberal Parliamentary Party meaning they will now sit on the cross benches with any independents present. The ICAC is investigating allegations of whether corrupt conduct occurred between April 2009 and April 2012, where certain members of parliament, including Mr Hartcher, Mr Webber and Mr Spence, and others are alleged to have corruptly solicited, received and concealed payments from
various sources in return for certain members of parliament agreeing to favour the interests of those responsible for the payments. ICAC is also investigating whether between December 2010 and November 2011, certain members of parliament, including Mr Hartcher, Mr Webber and Mr Spence, and others, solicited, received and failed to disclose political donations from companies, including prohibited donors, contrary to the Election Funding, Expenditure
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and Disclosures Act 1981 and whether Eightbyfive, a business operated by Timothy Koelma, Mr Hartcher’s former senior advisor, and Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd, through its CEO Mr Nicholas Di Girolamo, (currently a director on the board of the State Water Corporation) entered into an agreement whereby Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd made regular payments to Eightbyfive, purportedly for the provision of media, public relations and other services and advice, in return for which
Mr Hartcher favoured the interests of Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd. Spence and Webber both had their offices raided in September last year with investigators seizing computers and documents. As part of its investigation, the ICAC will hold a public inquiry starting on Monday, April 28, at Level 7, 133 Castlereagh St, Sydney. All three members have been contacted for comment but failed to respond by the time Wyong Regional Chronicle went to press. Media release, 19 Feb 2014 Alicia McCumstie, Liberal Party of Australia Kaitlin Watts, 19 Feb 2014 Website, 19 Feb 2014 Roy Waldon, Solicitor to the Commission, ICAC
“Operation Spicer suggests that the dark corners of NSW politics are not confined to the Labor party,” said Mr Kaye. “After just three years of Liberal National government, a former senior Minister and two newly-elected MPs are under the corruption watchdog’s spotlight. “The pious varnish has been knocked off the O’Farrell government. “As the state gears up for another election, the promises of clean government and an end to the rorts is to be put to the test before ICAC. “For the past three years, the Central Coast has been alive with rumours surrounding the Eightbyfive company and its involvement in political donations and Liberal party influence peddling. “Allegations of the role Australian Water Holdings has played in influencing both Labor and Coalition governments will at last be rigorously tested. “While no doubt many people in NSW will throw their hands up in despair at the prospect of another scandal-ridden government, there is some
reassurance in knowing that the independent watchdog is on the case. “The allegations give even greater weight to fears that there is something fundamentally wrong with the state’s political processes. “Promises of clean government delivered at elections appear to amount to very little in the face of the temptations of office. “While Mr Nicholas Di Girolamo sits at the centre of allegations in operations Credo and Spicer, he remains on the board of the State Water Corporation. “Treasurer Mike Baird who vigorously defended Mr Di Girolamo’s appointment last year has to respond to these very serious allegations and stand him down until ICAC has made its findings. “Mr Di Girolamo’s continued presence on the board of a state-owned corporation responsible for billions of dollars of water infrastructure will undermine public confidence until this matter is resolved,” Dr Kaye said. Media release, 18 Feb 2014 John Kaye, Greens NSW MP
the Wyong Shire