Former Labor minister Ian Macdonald has alleged a 'miscarriage of justice' in an appeal against his prison sentence for corruptly awarding a mining licence in the NSW Hunter Valley.
Former NSW Labor minister Ian Macdonald is in prison for corruptly awarding mining licence .Former Labor minister Ian Macdonald is appealing a jail term for corruptly awarding a mine exploration licence.The judgement has been reserved.Share article
In sentencing him to 14 years and six-months' jail, with a non-parole period of 10 years, the judge said a high degree of criminality was involved.Decision within guidelines The Doyles Creek licence was granted by direct allocation in 2008 when Macdonald was the state's resources minister."There was a practice where certain decisions were made for the public good … some went to cabinet and some of them didn't," Mr Mackay said.
"Both premier Nathan Rees and Morris Iemma said they relied on such letters of support and it was common practice."Crown Prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC agreed the allocation was not in breach of Department of Primary Industries guidelines. Mr Hatfield said the exploration licence covered an area with up to 91 million tonnes of coal and over its 35-year life could have a net profit of $1 billion."As far as a skills shortage there is some lag time, with the mine and training operation established in three to five years," he said.
Conviction Sentence Jail Resources Ian Macdonald Appeal Nsw Labor Minister Jail Corrupt Conduct Mining Licence Ex Labor Minister Former Labor Minister Doyles Creek Mine John Maitland
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