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operation liberal (CONservative) party purification process could take a lifetime...
A political staffer who set up the alleged NSW Liberal Party slush fund Eightbyfive wrote a false corruption complaint against senior public servants under an assumed identity, the Independent Commission Against Corruption has heard.
The public servants were standing in the way of plans by Australian Water Holdings (AWH), a company with links to disgraced ex-Labor MP Eddie Obeid and serving state and federal Liberal MPs that was at the centre of a previous ICAC inquiry, the commission heard.
Tim Koelma has admitted he wrote to ICAC under the guise of "a long-time employee" of Sydney Water, claiming the state-owned company had a culture of "under the table deals, preferential treatment and kick backs".
Mr Koelma, along with former NSW energy minister Chris Hartcher, is accused of issuing sham invoices to hide donations for political favours.
The letter also made claims against former senior Sydney Water executive Ron Quill and the company's former chief executive, Kerry Schott.
Counsel assisting ICAC, Geoffrey Watson SC, asked Mr Koelma: "Did you know that you could damage the position and reputation of Sydney Water very seriously?"
To which he answered: "Yes, I suppose."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-15/icac-eightbyfive-tim-koelma-hartcher-sydney-water-awh/5455026
- By Gus Leonisky at 15 May 2014 - 3:08pm
- Gus Leonisky's blog
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under the carpet...
PROMINENT Newcastle businessman Paul Murphy will not discuss the circumstances that led to him being named at the Independent Commission Against Corruption as the ‘‘carpet man’’ allegedly linked to ‘‘payments’’ from Nathan Tinkler’s embattled Newcastle developer, Buildev.
Mr Murphy, who runs a Newcastle carpet business and is chairman of the influential business lobby group the Newcastle Alliance, has declined to comment publicly about several mentions of his name at the ICAC’s public hearings into payments for political favours.
Text messages shown at the commission earlier this month revealed Buildev director Darren Williams asking an unknown person about ‘‘the carpet man’’ two days before the last state election.
‘‘Mate can I talk to Troy to sort out the carpet man today please?’’ Mr Williams texted on March 24, 2011.
When asked at the ICAC who he was referring to, Mr Williams said the ‘‘carpet man’’ was ‘‘Paul Murphy’’ who ran the ‘‘Newcastle Alliance’’.
‘‘To the extent that there’s any references made by you to the carpet man or payments to the carpet man, what was he doing, tiling?’’ counsel assisting the inquiry Geoffrey Watson, SC, asked.
‘‘Ah, no,’’ replied Mr Williams. ‘‘Paul Murphy ran the, I think it was called the Newcastle Alliance.’’
Mr Williams has admitted at the ICAC that he was involved in a secret campaign to oust former Labor minister Jodi McKay from the seat of Newcastle at the last state election because she opposed his boss, former billionaire Mr Tinkler’s coal-loader plan. The Newcastle Herald can reveal that before the poll, the Newcastle Alliance – run by high-profile Hunter business people and professionals – registered as a third-party campaigner with the Election Funding Authority in order to run a political advertising campaign.
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2283186/icac-carpet-man-paul-murphy-coy-over-campaign-funds/?cs=391