2019-07-31
NSW Greens corruption spokesperson Jamie Parker MP has welcomed the announcement of ICAC hearings which will examine serious allegations of subversion of state election donation laws.
Media reports have indicated that Chinese billionaire and Crown high roller Huang Xiangmo's relationship with former NSW Labor party boss Jamie Clements and ex-state MP, Ernest Wong, will be the focus of fresh corruption commission hearings. Of specific interest to ICAC is a March 2015 Chinese Friends of Labor dinner, where $100,000 was raised for the party.
Jamie Parker MP says:
"ICAC has already made findings against Liberal MPs who were found to have acted to evade election funding laws and now NSW Labor officials are accused of subverting state election donation laws too.
"Both Labor and the Liberals are in a desperate battle for political donations and these allegations highlight the dangerous culture that exists in the old parties when it comes to fundraising.
"This case is yet another example of why we need a strong, well-funded ICAC to investigate the political corruption that is endemic to Liberal and Labor politics here in NSW.
"The Greens have been pressing for a total ban on the types of pay-per-view fundraising events that are being investigated by the ICAC because of their inherently corrupting influence.
"The community expects politicians to be beyond reproach. To effectively tackle corruption in NSW, the government needs to double ICAC funding, introduce stronger laws to protect whistle-blowers and support new, modern laws to ensure that MPs who are found to have acted corruptly actually go to jail," he says.
Jamie Parker is available for interview.
Media contact - Eleanor Nurse 9660 7586