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Arthur Sinodinos backed by Liberal colleagues in wake of Icac inquiry Arthur Sinodinos backed by Liberal colleagues in wake of Icac inquiry
(6 months later)
Federal Liberals are rallying around the assistant treasurer, Arthur Sinodinos, describing him as a man of the “highest integrity”.Federal Liberals are rallying around the assistant treasurer, Arthur Sinodinos, describing him as a man of the “highest integrity”.
Senator Sinodinos has been dragged into a New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) inquiry into a huge business deal involving former state Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid.Senator Sinodinos has been dragged into a New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) inquiry into a huge business deal involving former state Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid.
The inquiry has heard Sinodinos stood to gain tens of millions of dollars if the deal between the privately held Australian Water Holdings and state-owned Sydney Water went through.The inquiry has heard Sinodinos stood to gain tens of millions of dollars if the deal between the privately held Australian Water Holdings and state-owned Sydney Water went through.
The minister, who is due to appear before Icac as a witness at a later date, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.The minister, who is due to appear before Icac as a witness at a later date, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
“He is a terrific person, a person of the highest integrity and these issues will be resolved,” a government frontbencher, Josh Frydenberg, said in Canberra on Tuesday.“He is a terrific person, a person of the highest integrity and these issues will be resolved,” a government frontbencher, Josh Frydenberg, said in Canberra on Tuesday.
Frydenberg said Sinodinos was a valued member of the Coalition government. “I look forward to working with him for many, many years to come,” Frydenberg said. “I have no doubt he will be in cabinet in due course.”Frydenberg said Sinodinos was a valued member of the Coalition government. “I look forward to working with him for many, many years to come,” Frydenberg said. “I have no doubt he will be in cabinet in due course.”
The finance minister, Mathias Cormann, rejected suggestions Sinodinos should stand down. “Arthur Sinodinos is doing an outstanding job,” Cormann told ABC Radio.The finance minister, Mathias Cormann, rejected suggestions Sinodinos should stand down. “Arthur Sinodinos is doing an outstanding job,” Cormann told ABC Radio.
He pointed out Sinodinos gave a statement to the Senate about his links to Australian Water Holdings. “I’m not going to give a running commentary on the inquiry that is taking place,” he said.He pointed out Sinodinos gave a statement to the Senate about his links to Australian Water Holdings. “I’m not going to give a running commentary on the inquiry that is taking place,” he said.
The Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said Sinodinos was entitled to a presumption of innocence. “These are serious matters,” he said in Canberra. He said it was a matter for Sinodinos to consider his future in the ministry.The Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said Sinodinos was entitled to a presumption of innocence. “These are serious matters,” he said in Canberra. He said it was a matter for Sinodinos to consider his future in the ministry.
But the Labor backbencher Kelvin Thomson said Sinodinos should leave the government’s frontbench.But the Labor backbencher Kelvin Thomson said Sinodinos should leave the government’s frontbench.
“I think it would be in the best interests for the integrity of the system if Senator Sinodinos were to step aside,” he said. “If he doesn’t, Tony Abbott should require him to do that.”“I think it would be in the best interests for the integrity of the system if Senator Sinodinos were to step aside,” he said. “If he doesn’t, Tony Abbott should require him to do that.”
Senior Labor MP Brendan O’Connor said while it was incumbent upon Sinodinos to fully cooperate with Icac, it was up to the prime minister to decide whether he should stay on the frontbench.Senior Labor MP Brendan O’Connor said while it was incumbent upon Sinodinos to fully cooperate with Icac, it was up to the prime minister to decide whether he should stay on the frontbench.
The parliamentary secretary to the treasurer, Steve Ciobo, played down Sinodinos’s past links to a company connected to the Obeid family. “I’m always very sceptical about people that apply forensic hindsight,” Ciobo said, adding that no allegations have been made against the senator. The parliamentary secretary to the treasurer, Steve Ciobo, played down Sinodinos’s past links to a company connected to the Obeid family. “I’m always very sceptical about people that apply forensic hindsight,” Ciobo said, adding that no allegations have been made against the senator.
Labor’s Bernie Ripoll said the question of Sinodinos’s future was a matter for the prime minister.Labor’s Bernie Ripoll said the question of Sinodinos’s future was a matter for the prime minister.
“I’m sure the prime minister will be saying something on that today because this is a very serious issue, these are very serious allegations,” he said in Canberra. “Whether he should step down or not will be a matter for the prime minister.”“I’m sure the prime minister will be saying something on that today because this is a very serious issue, these are very serious allegations,” he said in Canberra. “Whether he should step down or not will be a matter for the prime minister.”
The Liberal minister Jamie Briggs was reluctant to comment on the Icac proceedings, but said: “I will certainly give Arthur Sinodinos a character reference, he’s a very good person”.The Liberal minister Jamie Briggs was reluctant to comment on the Icac proceedings, but said: “I will certainly give Arthur Sinodinos a character reference, he’s a very good person”.