/ 6 February 2013

Aussie corruption controversy snowballs

Eddie Obeid is accused of using highly confidential information about a prospective coal licence to enrich himself and his family.
Eddie Obeid is accused of using highly confidential information about a prospective coal licence to enrich himself and his family.

Two of Australia's ministers dragged into a corruption scandal have admitted to accepting hospitality from someone at the centre of an inquiry.

Australia's Environment Minister Tony Burke and Senate leader Stephen Conroy both stayed at a ski lodge owned by Eddie Obeid, who is the focus of an Independent Commission Against Corruption probe over an alleged "criminal conspiracy".

Obeid, a former powerful kingpin in the New South Wales state Labour party, which holds power at the centre, is accused of using highly confidential information about a prospective coal licence to enrich himself and his family by tens of millions of dollars.

He has been giving evidence this week in a hearing that has gripped Sydney, with people queuing for hours to get a glimpse of proceedings that have seen him accused of effecting a massive "fraud on the people of New South Wales".

Obeid denies the allegations that he conspired with the state's former resources minister to obtain insider information, but in a new twist revealed Burke accepted his hospitality when he was in opposition.

"We are generous people and we like to share our generosity with our friends," Obeid told the hearing late Tuesday, fingering Burke and several state politicians, including current New South Wales Labour leader John Robertson.

Conroy admitted he too had stayed there once when in opposition.

Rejecting 'good mates' accusation
It is another major headache for Prime Minister Julia Gillard, whose Labor party is badly lagging in opinion polls after she last week announced an election for September 14.

Adding to her woes, two other senior ministers resigned over the weekend while an ex-Labour MP was arrested on 154 fraud charges.

The former MP, Craig Thomson, appeared in court on Wednesday and was bailed to reappear on May 22, vowing to clear his name.

Both Burke and Conroy on Wednesday played down their links to Obeid, rejecting suggestions that anything was expected in return.

"I declare two separate stays at this accommodation in the period 2004 to 2006," Burke said in a statement, denying he had been "good mates" with Obeid.

"On both occasions I stayed with my family. On neither occasion was any member of the Obeid family present."

He said if the allegations were proven against Obeid it would constitute a "complete abuse of public responsibility".

'Down in the gutter'
Conroy told reporters he stayed after being invited by Burke, and denied any association with Obeid.

"I don't think – and I could be wrong – but my recollection is I've never as much as had a cup of coffee with Eddie Obeid," he said.

Federal Liberal frontbencher Scott Morrison questioned Burke and Conroy's judgment.

"There is an old saying in this life that you can't choose your family but you do choose your friends, and it is clear that Eddie Obeid has friends in Julia Gillard's cabinet," he told reporters.

Conroy hit back by saying the opposition were "down in the gutter" with their suggestions about him.

"They want to do any smear, it doesn't matter how tenuous, it doesn't matter how thin, it doesn't matter how outrageous," he said. – AFP