[Greens-Media] Sartor double dips with new job at Labor donor firm

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
19 December 2008


Sartor double dips with new job at Labor donor firm

 
Just three months after loosing his job as Planning Minister Frank Sartor has taken a paid job with one of Australia's top law firms that lists planning, property and construction as some of its key speciality areas, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said today.

Gadens Solicitors donated $14,000 to NSW Labor in the lead up to the 2007 election.
 
"Frank Sartor has been the architect of this government's regressive planning laws. For Sartor to take a job with Gadens, a big Labor donor, is unethical if not strictly against the government's shoddy rules," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The former minister will provide his new employer with strategic advice on planning and development. Mr Sartor wealth of experience and contacts linked with his previous portfolio will prove valuable to Gadens. 

"Mr Sartor's salary package from Gadens will top up his $126,000 MPs wage which comes with a $37,000 expense account. 

"Former ministers and premiers are able to take up jobs linked with their former portfolio areas immediately on leaving office because both the Labor government and the opposition have failed to introduce a cooling off period. 
 
"A 2004 ICAC report recommended that the government introduce rules to restrict the range of employment that Ministers can take up in the immediate period after leaving office. US and Canada have a two-year ban on positions in areas covering former portfolio responsibilities. 

"In September 2006 when I moved a proposal that would have required the government to legislate for such a cooling off period Labor and the Coalition voted against the Greens plan. 

"If the ICAC recommendations on regulating ex-ministers taking second jobs had been adopted Premier Nathan Rees would not be faced with this latest embarrassment," Ms Rhiannon said. 
 
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