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Eddie Obeid pushed for Sydney Water boss to be sacked, Icac told Eddie Obeid pushed for Sydney Water boss to be sacked, Icac told
(about 20 hours later)
Former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid pushed for the removal of Sydney Water’s chief executive, Kerry Schott, telling the then water minister to “sack the bitch” and that a group were “coming after” Schott, a corruption inquiry has heard.Former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid pushed for the removal of Sydney Water’s chief executive, Kerry Schott, telling the then water minister to “sack the bitch” and that a group were “coming after” Schott, a corruption inquiry has heard.
The alleged warning from Obeid would have came before – as Icac was previously told – a member of the former NSW energy minister Chris Hartcher’s staff made an anonymous complaint levelling false allegations of corruption against Schott.The alleged warning from Obeid would have came before – as Icac was previously told – a member of the former NSW energy minister Chris Hartcher’s staff made an anonymous complaint levelling false allegations of corruption against Schott.
Former Labor minister Phillip Costa has told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) Obeid asked him to “sack the bitch” when they ran into each other at parliament one day.Former Labor minister Phillip Costa has told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) Obeid asked him to “sack the bitch” when they ran into each other at parliament one day.
Schott was blocking a public-private partnership with Australian Water Holdings (AWH) which would have made the Obeid family and Arthur Sinodinos, among others, millions of dollars.Schott was blocking a public-private partnership with Australian Water Holdings (AWH) which would have made the Obeid family and Arthur Sinodinos, among others, millions of dollars.
“I was a little gobsmacked by it and I understood he had a purpose for this but I did not know it,” Costa said of the run-in. “In my normal way, I probably would have said, ‘I’ll look into it.’ ”“I was a little gobsmacked by it and I understood he had a purpose for this but I did not know it,” Costa said of the run-in. “In my normal way, I probably would have said, ‘I’ll look into it.’ ”
Costa said Obeid began to lobby him about AWH within a month of him becoming a minister and he had a conversation with Obeid in which Obeid suggested a corruption complaint may be made against Schott.Costa said Obeid began to lobby him about AWH within a month of him becoming a minister and he had a conversation with Obeid in which Obeid suggested a corruption complaint may be made against Schott.
“There was a group of us who had dinner together on a Tuesday night [at parliament] … I was sitting beside Mr Obeid at the time and was told ‘Keep away from Ms Schott – they’re coming after her,’ ” Costa said.“There was a group of us who had dinner together on a Tuesday night [at parliament] … I was sitting beside Mr Obeid at the time and was told ‘Keep away from Ms Schott – they’re coming after her,’ ” Costa said.
When asked who was coming after Schott, Costa replied: “He did mention it was someone on the central coast and I dismissed it, to be honest.”When asked who was coming after Schott, Costa replied: “He did mention it was someone on the central coast and I dismissed it, to be honest.”
He added: “I was of the view he was trying to protect me.”He added: “I was of the view he was trying to protect me.”
Laurie Brown, chief-of-staff to former NSW Labor minister Tony Kelly, also stepped into the witness box on Tuesday to give evidence on a doctored cabinet minute which was changed from opposing the PPP with AWH to endorsing it.Laurie Brown, chief-of-staff to former NSW Labor minister Tony Kelly, also stepped into the witness box on Tuesday to give evidence on a doctored cabinet minute which was changed from opposing the PPP with AWH to endorsing it.
Brown repeatedly said he did not recall specifics about altering the cabinet minute or who instructed him to change it.Brown repeatedly said he did not recall specifics about altering the cabinet minute or who instructed him to change it.
He said he was “absolutely not” doing a favour for Obeid by helping to press for the PPP to be adopted.He said he was “absolutely not” doing a favour for Obeid by helping to press for the PPP to be adopted.
He said Kelly “did not agree” with the original minute and, when asked what comment Kelly had made when he was shown the original, Costa replied: “None, I don’t think … It was obviously a minute prepared by someone who didn’t have a lot of experience in writing cabinet minutes. I said, ‘Look, I’ll have a look at it.’ ” He said Kelly “did not agree” with the original minute and, when asked what comment Kelly had made when he was shown the original, Brown replied: “None, I don’t think … It was obviously a minute prepared by someone who didn’t have a lot of experience in writing cabinet minutes. I said, ‘Look, I’ll have a look at it.’ ”
Costa said he may have given instructions for the minute to be changed and conceded he made alterations himself. Brown said he may have given instructions for the minute to be changed and conceded he made alterations himself.
“Whether I got it [the information for the changes] from Joe Tripodi I cannot recall,” he said.“Whether I got it [the information for the changes] from Joe Tripodi I cannot recall,” he said.
The hearing continues.The hearing continues.
• This article was amended on 9 April 2014. The original misattributed words spoken by Laurie Brown to Phillip Costa and mistakenly said Costa said he may have given instructions for the cabinet minute to be changed and admitted making alterations. These errors have been corrected.