[Greens-Media] (Sylvia Hale MLC) Royal Commission Needed to Clean Up Developer Donations Stench

[Christopher Holley]

Royal Commission Needed to Clean Up Developer Donations Stench

 
NSW Greens MP and planning spokesperson Sylvia Hale has called for a
Royal Commission into the relationship between political donations by
property developers and decisions by NSW Government Ministers that have
benefited those developers.

“This Labor government has introduced the most developer friendly
planning laws in a generation at the same time that the Labor Party has
received millions of dollars in political donations from developers.”

“The list of developer donors to the Labor Party who have made big
financial gains from decisions by Labor Government Ministers grows by
the day.”

“The Premier claiming that there is no proof of a link between the
donation and the decision is not good enough.” 

“Mr Iemma seems incapable of recognising the potential conflict of
interest when the Labor Party accepts donations from a developer who has
a major development application being determined by a Labor Government
Minister or Councillor.” 

“Where the public sees a conflict of interest, the Labor Party sees a
fundraising opportunity.”

“The public is entitled to continue to be suspicious until a Royal
Commission has had the opportunity to question under oath the
developers, the Ministers and the party officials.”

“The Commission could then determine what, if any, undertakings were
given to the developers when Labor Party officials solicited their
donations and whether the donations influenced the Ministers’
decisions.”

“The Coalition is not squeaky clean on this either. In June 2005 they
voted in favour of giving extraordinary discretionary powers to the
Minister for Planning to call in and approve developments. In that same
year the NSW Liberal and National parties received over $1 million in
donations from property developers.”

“A Royal Commission should scrutinise developer donations to all
parties and what if any undertakings were given to developers in return
for their donations.”

 

For more information:  	Chris Holley 02 9230 3030 / 0437779546