NSW: Royal commission needed into developer donations - Greens

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2008
NSW: Royal commission needed into developer donations - Greens

SYDNEY, April 6 AAP - The NSW Greens are calling for a royal commission into developer
donations to political parties, after releasing research showing $4 million worth of donations
to the NSW Labor Party.

Conducted over a six year period, the research by the Greens shows two companies, Stockland
and Meriton, donated $100,000 and $150,000 to the Labor party while development applications
were being considered by Planning Minister Frank Sartor.

Greens MP Sylvia Hale said donations were made to the state government while developers
were waiting for approval for major development applications.

"A royal commission could determine whether undertakings were given to the developers
when Labor party officials solicited their donations and whether the donations influenced
the minister's decisions," Ms Hale said.

"The pattern of donations to the Labor party coinciding with favourable decisions for
the developers who made those donations cannot be ignored or explained away."

Ten big donors to the Labor party have had developments worth over $1.5 billion considered
or approved by Mr Sartor, while at the same time making over $1 million in donations to
the government, she said.

In several cases, large donations have coincided with key decisions by the minister
to allow projects to proceed.

AAP eb/it/mn

KEYWORD: DEVELOPERS

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