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NSW government cancels mining licences tainted by Eddie Obeid, Ian Macdonald corruption scandals
Date
January 20, 2014 - 5:52PM


NuCoal has foreshadowed legal action against Ian Macdonald and others.
The O'Farrell government has cancelled mining licences approved by former Labor minister Ian Macdonald. Photo: Jon Reid
The NSW government has announced it will cancel lucrative coal licences at the centre of corruption inquiries involving former ministers Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid, and deny the companies who own them any compensation.

On Monday Premier Barry O'Farrell said the NSW government would introduce legislation to cancel the exploration licences for Doyles Creek and Mt Penny and Glendon Brook.

The cancellation was recommended by ICAC in December as it concluded the licences were "tainted by corruption".

In a statement Mr O'Farrell said legislation would require the companies which own the licences, NuCoal in the case of Doyles Creek and Cascade Coal in the case of Mt Penny and Glendon Brook, to hand over all exploration data and be responsible for any rehabilition of the sites.

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"There is no intention to immediately re-release the affected areas but any future process for issuing licences will be consistent with the NSW government's implementation of the ICAC's recommendations on probity," the statement said.

"No compensation is to be provided for the cancellation of these licences. The legislation will indemnify the taxpayer from any possible claims relating to the issuing or cancellation of the licences."

In December, ICAC advised the licences should be cancelled because they were tainted by corruption following sensational inquiries involving Mr Macdonald and Mr Obeid.

Last year ICAC found Mr Macdonald acted corruptly in creating a mining tenement at Mount Penny in the Bylong Valley over land owned by the Obeid family, delivering it tens of millions of dollars.

It also found Mr Macdonald acted corruptly in granting the licence at Doyles Creek in the Hunter Valley in 2008 to a company, Doyles Creek Mining, then chaired by former union official John Maitland.

NuCoal and Cascade have previously threatened the government with legal action if the licences were cancelled.

Last week NuCoal estimated it would seek compensation of "at least" $500 million while Cascade warned of "lengthy and costly litigation".

NuCoal and Cascade have been approached for comme



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-government-cancels-mining-licences-tainted-by-eddie-obeid-ian-macdonald-corruption-scandals-20140120-314iv.html#ixzz2qvKFtL4O

let these companies sue Obeid and McDonald.... it was their corrupt actions  that made this all possible..

and serves them right..

perceptions_now wrote on Jan 20^th, 2014 at 7:48pm:




what is sad.. nothing can undo what he has got away with..the best we can hope for is it never ever happens again..the ALP has to be more vigilant..its not about votes..its about integrity...to have allowed this scum to be a part of their empire...is shameful.. I just do not believe NO ONE KNEW..from the leaders down they all knew.... and eh got away with it... HOW COME?.. what is the culture of the ALP.. to turn a blind eye to such a person? that should read persons..it goes for the union people as well..

A good diversion from their own incompetence and corruption.

And it's obviously working, if you're anything to go by.

Kat wrote on Jan 20^th, 2014 at 7:39pm:




how bad is this comment... unbelievable..

what a shame you dont have the power to remove some posters perc...their sickness is a disgrace to these boards..

it brings Pol SUx into the gutter.

It's not as if the licence cancellations are actions that O'Farrell thought out and acted on of his own accord - he was acting on recommendations made by ICAC last year.

Still, we should be thankful that O'Farrell did act on those recommendations, after all, it isn't often that he does something.

A little for everyone in this.

The NSW Premier has announced that 3 coal licences corruptly granted in the Hunter by bent Lab kingpins Obied and McDonald will be cancelled without compensation.

Now we just need proceeds of crime legislation to be applied to these sleaseballs and I'll be all smiles for the rest of  the week.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 21^st, 2014 at 11:40am:


Were's bobby with hang high!   

Doctor Jolly wrote on Jan 21^st, 2014 at 12:18pm:


Do you think it's the right thing or the wrong thing to cancel the licences ?