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Jodi McKay weeps in the dock as Icac hears of smear campaign Jodi McKay weeps in the dock as Icac hears of smear campaign
(3 days later)
Former NSW Labor minister Jodi McKay wept at a corruption inquiry on Thursday after being told of evidence that an anonymous smear campaign against her 2011 re-election campaign was orchestrated by another former Labor minister, Joe Tripodi, his staffer Ann Wills and mining magnate Nathan Tinkler.Former NSW Labor minister Jodi McKay wept at a corruption inquiry on Thursday after being told of evidence that an anonymous smear campaign against her 2011 re-election campaign was orchestrated by another former Labor minister, Joe Tripodi, his staffer Ann Wills and mining magnate Nathan Tinkler.
“I believed they were behind it, but that’s the first time I’ve been told that,” McKay said through tears at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) hearing in Sydney. “I knew they didn’t want me in the seat."“I believed they were behind it, but that’s the first time I’ve been told that,” McKay said through tears at the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) hearing in Sydney. “I knew they didn’t want me in the seat."
In a dramatic testimony that swung the spotlight back onto Labor sleaze away from the Liberals, the inquiry also heard that former NSW treasurer and ports minister Eric Roozendaal issued McKay with a “subtle threat” over her opposition to plans by Tinkler's business to build a coal loader on the site of BHP’s old steelworks in Mayfield, Newcastle.In a dramatic testimony that swung the spotlight back onto Labor sleaze away from the Liberals, the inquiry also heard that former NSW treasurer and ports minister Eric Roozendaal issued McKay with a “subtle threat” over her opposition to plans by Tinkler's business to build a coal loader on the site of BHP’s old steelworks in Mayfield, Newcastle.
McKay also accused the coal baron of making an offer to evade campaign funding laws in order to contribute money to her 2011 election campaign.McKay also accused the coal baron of making an offer to evade campaign funding laws in order to contribute money to her 2011 election campaign.
During what she described as a "torrid" 2011 state election campaign, McKay, the former member for Newcastle, was the target of unauthorised pamphlets warning voters she supported a coal terminal in Mayfield that would see trucks rumble through the community's streets 24 hours a day. "Stop Jodi's Trucks In Our Streets", the pamphlets said. During what she described as a "torrid" 2011 state election campaign, McKay, the former member for Newcastle, was the target of unauthorised pamphlets warning voters she supported a container terminal in Mayfield that would see trucks rumble through the community's streets 24 hours a day. "Stop Jodi's Trucks In Our Streets", the pamphlets said.
The police made enquiries at the time but the source of the material has never been revealed. McKay lost her seat when Labor lost the election.The police made enquiries at the time but the source of the material has never been revealed. McKay lost her seat when Labor lost the election.
“I belonged to a very unpopular government,” she said on Thursday, but “I absolutely believe that [the pamphlet] impacted on my election chances, as it was intended to do”.“I belonged to a very unpopular government,” she said on Thursday, but “I absolutely believe that [the pamphlet] impacted on my election chances, as it was intended to do”.
She broke down when counsel assisting the inquiry, Greg O’Mahoney, told her that Icac “had information” that the smear campaign was engineered by Tripodi, Wills and the Tinkler Group.She broke down when counsel assisting the inquiry, Greg O’Mahoney, told her that Icac “had information” that the smear campaign was engineered by Tripodi, Wills and the Tinkler Group.
“I felt that they wanted me out of the seat because I wouldn’t do what they wanted me to do,” McKay said. “They couldn’t control me and they didn’t want me in the seat.”“I felt that they wanted me out of the seat because I wouldn’t do what they wanted me to do,” McKay said. “They couldn’t control me and they didn’t want me in the seat.”
The former minister for the Hunter allegedly fell out with Roozendaal and Tripodi towards the end of 2010, after she asked Roozendaal’s office why the announcement of a tender process for a coal terminal at the steelworks site in Mayfield had been delayed. The former minister for the Hunter allegedly fell out with Roozendaal and Tripodi towards the end of 2010, after she asked Roozendaal’s office why the announcement of a tender process for a container terminal at the steelworks site in Mayfield had been delayed.
Building the $600m coal terminal was Labor government policy at the time, but McKay said she “couldn’t get any information” on the tender’s announcement. “Which was unusual, because I was the minister for the Hunter, and I was the local member,” she said. Building the $600m container terminal was Labor government policy at the time, but McKay said she “couldn’t get any information” on the tender’s announcement. “Which was unusual, because I was the minister for the Hunter, and I was the local member,” she said.
"I became increasingly aware that this was being stonewalled.”"I became increasingly aware that this was being stonewalled.”
Soon after, she discovered in a newspaper report that Tinkler’s construction company, Buildev, was proposing to build a coal loader in place of the terminal. “I was stunned, to be honest,” she said. “There was no transparency. This thing just suddenly appeared.”Soon after, she discovered in a newspaper report that Tinkler’s construction company, Buildev, was proposing to build a coal loader in place of the terminal. “I was stunned, to be honest,” she said. “There was no transparency. This thing just suddenly appeared.”
In a meeting early in 2011, McKay told the inquiry Tinkler came to her with an offer: “Towards the end of the meeting, he was saying how difficult it was going to be for me to win the state election, and how difficult [independent candidate] John Tate was going to be to beat … And then there was an offer to donate to my campaign.In a meeting early in 2011, McKay told the inquiry Tinkler came to her with an offer: “Towards the end of the meeting, he was saying how difficult it was going to be for me to win the state election, and how difficult [independent candidate] John Tate was going to be to beat … And then there was an offer to donate to my campaign.
“And I said to him, you can’t, you’re a developer. And he said, ‘I have hundreds of employees and I can get around the rules that way.’“And I said to him, you can’t, you’re a developer. And he said, ‘I have hundreds of employees and I can get around the rules that way.’
“He would use his money to give to his employees to donate to my campaign, so that he as a developer wasn’t donating to my campaign. It was pretty clear what he was saying,” she said.“He would use his money to give to his employees to donate to my campaign, so that he as a developer wasn’t donating to my campaign. It was pretty clear what he was saying,” she said.
“It was an attempt to bribe you?” O’Mahoney asked.“It was an attempt to bribe you?” O’Mahoney asked.
“It certainly felt like he wanted my support, and he was prepared to buy that,” she replied.“It certainly felt like he wanted my support, and he was prepared to buy that,” she replied.
“In other words, that would be a bribe,” he said.“In other words, that would be a bribe,” he said.
“Yes,” she replied.“Yes,” she replied.
McKay reported the alleged incident to the police, Icac and the NSW election funding authority.McKay reported the alleged incident to the police, Icac and the NSW election funding authority.
She said her sense of “unease” grew after she again told Roozendaal that she opposed the coal loader proposal, and was allegedly asked by the former treasurer: “Haven’t you spoken to Tinkler?”She said her sense of “unease” grew after she again told Roozendaal that she opposed the coal loader proposal, and was allegedly asked by the former treasurer: “Haven’t you spoken to Tinkler?”
After a treasury document was leaked to Newcastle media undermining the viability of McKay’s preferred option, the coal terminal, she allegedly rang Roozendaal and told him: “I will not support what you are doing. I will not be a part of what you are doing.” After a treasury document was leaked to Newcastle media undermining the viability of McKay’s preferred option, the container terminal, she allegedly rang Roozendaal and told him: “I will not support what you are doing. I will not be a part of what you are doing.”
He allegedly told her "not to say things like that over the phone".He allegedly told her "not to say things like that over the phone".
“I think he thought you [Icac] were listening,” she said.“I think he thought you [Icac] were listening,” she said.
Roozendaal allegedly later texted her: “Can you call me back before we both do something we’ll regret.”Roozendaal allegedly later texted her: “Can you call me back before we both do something we’ll regret.”
“It was in some ways a subtle threat to me … but it strengthened my resolve in regards to this issues,” she told the hearing. “My sense of unease, my concern about what was going on within Eric Roozendaal's office to do with Buildev, and Nathan Tinkler, was significant.”“It was in some ways a subtle threat to me … but it strengthened my resolve in regards to this issues,” she told the hearing. “My sense of unease, my concern about what was going on within Eric Roozendaal's office to do with Buildev, and Nathan Tinkler, was significant.”
McKay’s worries deepened when a member of Roozendaal’s staff who shared her concerns over the coal terminal was replaced by Ian Macnamara, a former employee of Tripodi and disgraced Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid. McKay’s worries deepened when a member of Roozendaal’s staff who shared her concerns over the container terminal was replaced by Ian Macnamara, a former employee of Tripodi and disgraced Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid.
Roozendaal, Obeid and Tripodi have been the subject of previous Icac investigations. Obeid also featured in last month’s investigation into attempts by Australian Water Holdings to secure a lucrative public-private partnership to deliver water infrastructure to Sydney’s north west.Roozendaal, Obeid and Tripodi have been the subject of previous Icac investigations. Obeid also featured in last month’s investigation into attempts by Australian Water Holdings to secure a lucrative public-private partnership to deliver water infrastructure to Sydney’s north west.
This current inquiry is looking into allegations that senior Liberals on the central coast, including the former energy minister Chris Hartcher, operated slush funds and accepted prohibited donations in exchange for political favours.This current inquiry is looking into allegations that senior Liberals on the central coast, including the former energy minister Chris Hartcher, operated slush funds and accepted prohibited donations in exchange for political favours.
Outside the hearing on Thursday, McKay told reporters that she had “waited three years” to detail her experiences in public. “It was so hard, it was such a terrible, terrible time, but I’m pleased that I’ve finally been able to give evidence. I feel relieved,” she said.Outside the hearing on Thursday, McKay told reporters that she had “waited three years” to detail her experiences in public. “It was so hard, it was such a terrible, terrible time, but I’m pleased that I’ve finally been able to give evidence. I feel relieved,” she said.
Asked why she hadn’t gone along with Tinkler’s offer to fund her campaign, she said: “I was an MP elected by my community, I had a responsibility to my community, and a responsibility to behave transparently and appropriately and ethically, and I wasn’t going to let anyone interfere with that.”Asked why she hadn’t gone along with Tinkler’s offer to fund her campaign, she said: “I was an MP elected by my community, I had a responsibility to my community, and a responsibility to behave transparently and appropriately and ethically, and I wasn’t going to let anyone interfere with that.”
“Perhaps I can now move on – and never go back to politics,” she added.“Perhaps I can now move on – and never go back to politics,” she added.