[Greens-Media] (Hale MLC) It's time the Minister shouldered the blame for shady Rocks deals

[Colin Hesse]

Media Release

>From Sylvia Hale, Greens MP and spokesperson for Planning

1 September  2010   - For immediate use
 
It's time the Minister shouldered the blame for shady Rocks deals
 
Planning Minister Tony Kelly today ducked questions in Parliament by Greens MP Sylvia Hale over serious accusations of corruption regarding the leasing of Government-owned buildings in The Rocks.
 
"It's time the Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, took responsibility for what's been going on at the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA)," said Ms Hale, Greens spokesperson for Planning
 
"I first wrote to him in December 2009 about allegations of improper conduct at SHFA following reports in the media. 
 
"Mr Kelly assured me then that SHFA had 'conducted an internal review' and that its CEO was 'satisfied the Authority followed all proper processes and approvals in leasing the property, and there was no evidence of misconduct by any Authority employee.'
 
"Mr Kelly also said that a report of the CEO's review had been sent to ICAC for its information.
 
"A fat lot of good that did!" said Ms Hale. "Clearly, the media have had more success in uncovering shady deals at SHFA than ICAC. 
 
"It's about time the Minister came clean and admitted that he ignored all the warnings and failed to instigate thorough internal and external inquiries into what was happening, rather than leave SHFA to investigate itself.
 
"Today, in response to my question about dealings between SHFA and the Kazal family, Mr Kelly said that the matter had been referred to the ICAC.
 
"Rather than act, the Government is once again hiding behind the ICAC, an organisation with a poor record of investigating matters of government corruption.
 
"The ICAC is so underfunded that its investigations are akin to digging for evidence with a toothpick.
 
"Minister Kelly's assurances to me earlier this year were not worth the paper they're written on. It's time he shouldered responsibility for his inactivity and incompetence and resigned," said Ms Hale.
 
 
Contact: Colin Hesse on 02 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124