[Greens-Media] Embargoed 8pm 18 April. Greens MP Sylvia Hale: Sartor faces new donations scandal

[Christopher Holley]

18 April 2008 
 Stockland scandal: Sartor must step aside
 
The NSW Greens have renewed their call for Premier Iemma to stand
Planning Minister Frank Sartor aside after tonight’s ABC Stateline
program aired new allegations that he had intervened to help secure a
more favourable deal for Stockland in a dispute it was having with
Wollongong Council over a controversial residential development at
Sandon Point.
 
The Greens have referred documents relating to the allegations to the
ICAC and have yet to receive a decision.
 
‘Research by the Greens has revealed that Stockland donated more than
$100,000 to the NSW ALP while the Sandon Point development was under
consideration by the Labor-controlled and now sacked Wollongong Council
and Minister Sartor,’ said NSW Greens Planning Spokesperson Sylvia Hale
MLC.
 
‘I have a letter dated 6 July 2006 from Deborah Dearing, Stockland’s
National Manager – Strategic Urban Planning, to Minister Sartor that
refers to the Minister asking at a dinner “how Stockland’s Sandon Point
project was proceeding”. The letter notes that “in the past two weeks,
negotiations with Wollongong Council have taken an unexpected and
unsatisfactory turn”, and that “We seek your recommendations and
intervention in this matter”.
 
‘The Minister in turn sought advice from the Director-General of
Planning, who responded on 21 July that “In the context of commercial
negotiations, it is inappropriate for Stockland to request that the
Department or Minister intervene”.
 
‘A hand-written note by the Minister appears on this advice – “I
understand from the GM of Wollongong that it has been resolved. Please
check with Stockland. FS”
 
‘These revelations are just the latest in a series that suggest that,
far from determining matters on their merits, the Minister is not
impartial when dealing with Labor party donors,’ Ms Hale said.
 
‘The Minister should not be discussing development applications with
Labor Party donors at social functions.
 
‘Residents don’t get the opportunity to rub shoulders with Frank Sartor
at plush dinners to tell him what they think about a development but, if
you’re a big developer and political donor like Stockland, you do.
 
‘These documents demonstrate the potential conflicts of interest that
surround development negotiations and discussions when so much money is
being handed over.
 
‘The revelations reinforce the need for a Royal Commission into the
relationship between developer donations and development approvals in
this State.
 
‘The Government and the Opposition should commit to supporting the
Greens Bill to ban political parties and candidates accepting donations
from property developers.
 
‘The Premier must immediately stand the Minister aside and put all Part
3A and major project approvals on hold until an independent
investigation is held,’ concluded Ms Hale.
 
Ms Hale will be holding a media conference on Saturday the 19th April.
Details to be advised.
 
Further information: Chris Holley  (02) 9230 3030 / 0437 779 546
 
 
Chris Holley
Policy and Media Officer
Office of Sylvia Hale MLC
Parliament House 
Macquarie St,
Sydney NSW 2000

Ph: 02 9230 3030 Mob: 0437 779 546
Fax: 02 9230 2159

E-mail: Christopher.Holley at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web:www.sylviahale.org.au