[Greens-Media] Call on Sartor to step aside while developer fundraiser claims investigated

[Lee Rhiannon]

Media Release 
18 February 2007

Call on Sartor to step aside while developer fundraiser claims
investigated

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called on Planning Minister Frank Sartor to
stand aside while an independent investigation is carried out into his
involvement in soliciting developers to attend his own fundraiser that
raised more than $500,000. 

*Premier Morris Iemma needs to take action. For a planning minister
to hold a function for developers opens the government up to perceptions
of bribes and corruption,* Ms Rhiannon said.
 
*Mr Sartor should stand aside from his portfolio responsibilities
while an independent investigation is carried out. 

*Today*s Sydney Morning Herald [Page 1] states that it understands
that Mr Sartor in a phone conversation with the chief executive of the
Stockland Trust Group, Matthew Quinn, asked if the company was planning
to book a table at the Re-elect Frank Sartor dinner. 

*Records at the NSW Election Funding Authority show that the ALP
received $8000 from Stockland for this function. 

*Stockland also doubled their annual donations to Labor to $39,250 in
the 2006-7 financial year. 

*Records for the fund raising dinner show that it raised $513,847.
The event cost $317,488 to stage so the net proceeds were $196,358.

*Stockland is pushing ahead with major developments on the south
coast at Sandon Point and Vincentia. Both projects were approved by the
Planning Minister despite widespread local opposition.

*An independent investigation is needed as NSW Labor has received
these hefty developer donations at the same time that Minister Sartor is
stripping back community involvement in planning decisions. 

*If the Premier refuses to oblige the Planning Minister to step aside
and initiate an independent investigation I will take this matter to the
Upper House Inquiry into political donations set to begin hearings in
early March. 

*The Greens are calling for a ban on all political donations from
developers,* Ms Rhiannon said.


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