Media Release 12 October 2012
The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham has today written to Premier Barry O’Farrell requesting the release of information regarding Resources and Energy Minister Chris Hartcher’s activities with lobbyists, after the Minister told Budget Estimates it was his ‘policy’ to keep such contacts secret.
Minister Hartcher repeatedly refused to say whether he had met with former Liberal Senator turned coal industry lobbyist, Santo Santoro.
“It’s not acceptable for a Minister to keep his meetings with high-powered lobbyists and party friends secret from the public,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.
“Today I’ve written to the Premier requesting the Mr Hartcher’s lobbying contacts be made public and that a public lobbyist contact register be kept for the Department of Resources and Energy, similar to what occurs for the Department of Planning.
“It was Barry O’Farrell who christened former Resources Minister Ian Macdonald ‘Sir Lunch-a-Lot’ and promised a more transparent regime for lobbying activities. He must act to ensure his promise is fulfilled in relation to his own Ministers.
“There is great concern about mining and gas companies riding roughshod over farmers and communities, so it is extremely important that the public has confidence that Ministers are not being wined and dined by well-connected lobbyists,” said Mr Buckingham.
Letter to Barry O’Farrell: http://bit.ly/OXiOhp
Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916
October 12th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Fully support this motion. If both the NSW and QLD Premiers have nothing to hide in their ministers dealings with mining industry reps then they should also fully support this.
Following Chris Hartchers dealings with a series of chinese trade and investment and mining delegations post the 2000 Sydney Olympics would be a very interesting exercise for any investigative journalist who may be so inclined.
Just a thought.