RSS Feed
April 11th, 2013 
Peter Nolan
Posted
A corruption inquiry has heard a former union boss and a group of entrepreneurs tried to conceal that they stood to make millions from a New South Wales coal licence.
The ICAC is investigating the 2008 Doyles Creek coal licence granted by former NSW Labor minister Ian Macdonald without a tender.
A public inquiry has heard allegations he “gifted” the licence to his friend, ex-union boss John Maitland, and a small group of entrepreneurs.
Mining consultant Peter Demura admitted making handwritten notes during a 2007 meeting attended by Mr Maitland and others who stood to benefit from the licence.
He admitted writing notes that stated the group needed to demonstrate the benefits of the mine and that it should not be seen as a “privilege” for the entrepreneurs.
But the witness could not remember who made those comments at the meeting.
The inquiry has previously heard Mr Maitland made an initial outlay of $165,000 in the project but three years later profited $15 million from it.
The ICAC inquiry has also heard Mr Maitland was promoting the project as a training mine.
It has heard the Doyles Creek licence was announced at Christmas in 2008 and that Mr Macdonald acted against advice from his own department.
The inquiry continues.
Topics:
law-crime-and-justice,
courts-and-trials,
mining-industry,
corruption,
state-parliament,
sydney-2000
Source Article from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-11/macdonald-gifted-licence-to-mates-icac-told/4624024
Views: 0
Posted in 
