Mood:
rushedTopic: election nsw 2007
[SAM editor: Premier Iemma appears desperate to pump prime 'economic activity' at any cost, no matter how cynical as below, and almost certainly ignores scientific predictions of serious sea level rise at the construction location, as for all of coastal Sydney. What a mess.]
MEDIA RELEASE 6 February 2007
Desal plant tender process corrupted by $1 million donations to NSW ALP
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today revealed that NSW Labor has received over $1 million from the Iemma Government*s preferred builders of the proposed desalination plant.
"It's no surprise that these companies are the preferred tenderers for the desalination plant - the process is corrupted by political donations before it even starts," said Ms Rhiannon.
"John Holland, Sinclair Knight Merz, Multiplex and Theiss have been massive donors to the NSW ALP. Their combined donations for the last eight years have been over $1 million.
"We knew the Kurnell desalination plant was bad news for the environment and for the economy, now we know it is bad news for democracy.
"We don't know what deals these companies did with Premier Morris Iemma and his ministers behind closed doors, but we believe they did not give more than $1 million in donations without a plan to boost their own
profits.
"The desalination plant was already on the nose. But the Premier's invite to top ALP donors to tender has just added to the stink.
"Theiss' donations alone went up four fold last year to $33,000. Veolia donated to the ALP last year for the first time.
"The Government will continue to make planning blunders so long as it does business with its big donors," Ms Rhiannon
For donation figures, see: www.democracy4sale.org
For more information: 9230 3551; 0427 861 568
Desal plant tender process corrupted by $1 million donations to NSW ALP
Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today revealed that NSW Labor has received over $1 million from the Iemma Government*s preferred builders of the proposed desalination plant.
"It's no surprise that these companies are the preferred tenderers for the desalination plant - the process is corrupted by political donations before it even starts," said Ms Rhiannon.
"John Holland, Sinclair Knight Merz, Multiplex and Theiss have been massive donors to the NSW ALP. Their combined donations for the last eight years have been over $1 million.
"We knew the Kurnell desalination plant was bad news for the environment and for the economy, now we know it is bad news for democracy.
"We don't know what deals these companies did with Premier Morris Iemma and his ministers behind closed doors, but we believe they did not give more than $1 million in donations without a plan to boost their own
profits.
"The desalination plant was already on the nose. But the Premier's invite to top ALP donors to tender has just added to the stink.
"Theiss' donations alone went up four fold last year to $33,000. Veolia donated to the ALP last year for the first time.
"The Government will continue to make planning blunders so long as it does business with its big donors," Ms Rhiannon
For donation figures, see: www.democracy4sale.org
For more information: 9230 3551; 0427 861 568
Postscript #1 7th Feb 2007
More Iemma State Govt sellout to developers here in today's press: http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/a-little-barefaced-cheek-works-wonders/2007/02/06/1170524093911.html
Posted by editor
at 9:04 PM EADT
Updated: Wednesday, 7 February 2007 6:49 AM EADT
