Doyles Creek inquiry could bring corruption charges
ALLEGED corruption in the Doyles Creek exploration licence approval process is being investigated by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), with the possibility of charges for those involved. Disgraced former NSW Mining minister Ian Macdonald was in charge of the license, approved in December 2008 and granted without competitive tender to former union associate John Maitland against departmental advice. According to The Australian, the granting of the mining exploration licence delivered Mr Maitland and his associates a $48 million profit from the sale to NuCoal, after only investing $165,000. Mr Macdonald’s former chief of staff Jamie Gibson told the ICAC the approval process was unusual, The Australian reported. “He wanted it done quickly and he wanted it done in-house,”...