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ICAC Report Wollongong Council: need for wider investigation
29/05/2008
The ICAC’s second report into corruption at Wollongong Council demonstrates the need for a wider investigation of corruption in the state’s planning system, according to NSW Greens MP Lee Rhiannon. Ms Rhiannon welcomed the recommendation from the ICAC that approval for the Quattro development be suspended.
“There are many questionable developments in Wollongong and across the state that should be examined by the ICAC or a Royal Commission,” said Ms Rhiannon.
“Anyone who thinks corruption of the planning system begins and ends with Wollongong Council is kidding themselves. Anyone who thinks the Quattro development is the only development approval that has been gained through corrupt or unethical means is deluded.”
Greens MP Sylvia Hale recently named in parliament several other Wollongong developments that should be investigated including the Rawson Street and Landmark developments, undertaken by the Jempac group and the City Beach Function Centre.
“Political donations by developers are corrupting planning decisions across NSW,” said Ms Rhiannon.
The NSW Greens recently delivered a 300-page brief to the Independent Commission Against Corruption that they say contains evidence of a pattern of developers who make political donations getting favourable treatment.
Greens researchers have analysed electoral donations records and decisions made about major projects in NSW since the planning laws were amended to give the NSW Planning Minister extraordinary powers to override existing environment and heritage protections and approve large developments.
“Our analysis shows that 13 companies have had nearly $3 billion worth of developments approved under these powers. In the same period those companies donated over $2 million to the NSW ALP,” said Ms Rhiannon.
“We have also found evidence that other companies have been making significant donations to the NSW ALP while their projects are being considered by Planning Minister Sartor or his department.”
“At the same time we examined the projects that were refused under those powers and found that in 2005-06 none of the companies that had projects refused were political donors. This pattern of donors being more successful at getting approvals and non-donors getting more refusals raises very serious questions about the planning system,” said Ms Hale.
“The Greens have also uncovered evidence of multiple breaches of the state’s electoral disclosure laws by some developers and the NSW Labor Party.
Further information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
[via Lee Rhiannon MLC Media Release Wednesday 28 May 2008 link]
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