[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: "Missing" letters from Metgasco finally released

[David Shoebridge MLC]

*"Missing" letters from Metgasco finally released *


*12 March 2014 *Four "missing" letters from Metgasco Ltd to Government
Ministers have finally been released indicating what Greens MP David
Shoebridge has long been speculating, that a high level of political
interference took place during police protest operations at Glenugie last
year.



Metgasco CEO Peter Henderson wrote to the then Minister for Resource and
Energy, now ICAC embroiled, Chris Hartcher as well as the Minister for
Planning and Infrastructure Brad Hazzard, Minister for Police and Emergency
Services Michael Gallacher and the Attorney General Greg Smith requesting
"greater legal reinforcement" for their operations.



Henderson also expressed concern about the "excessively lenient legal
system" and its "unwillingness" to harshly penalise activists with
"anti-development agendas." Henderson's suggestion to the Government in how
to deal with protesters was to impose mandatory sentences.



The content in these letters now raises questions as to why the Government
failed to hand over these documents following numerous GIPA requests lodged
by David Shoebridge.



Both former Minister Hartcher and Police Minister Gallacher advised in a
GIPA (FOI) Notice of Decision that no information or documents existed
relating to these protests, and upon further GIPA requests only one of the
letters was released.



Greens NSW MP and Police Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:



"What we have now are documents being released that the Government
bizarrely denied having any record of in the first place.



"These letters not only indicate a clear directive issued by the Metgasco's
CEO, but that the Government actually obeyed.



"The charges against these protesters were thrown out in court and we see
now were only laid following direct political interference.



"It is simply unacceptable for resource industries to be effectively
directing the operational activities of police in NSW." Mr Shoebridge said.


*Media Contact: 9230 3030 *

-- 

* David ShoebridgeGreens MP in the NSW Legislative Council P: (02) 9230
3030 |Media: 0408 113 952|T: @ShoebridgeMLC
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