Less than twenty years after the ICAC's erronious finding against Premier Nick Greiner for appointing a qualified advocate to head a bureaucracy, the ICAC exonerates Mr Tripodi.
Mr Tripodi has done nothing wrong. He kept at arms length an appointment of a former friend. His former friend had political contacts who were able to secure him a plum position. $200k per annum job, not his sole source of income.
Premier Nick Greiner had done nothing wrong in appointing a qualified person, in the form of Dr Metherell, to head an environmental body. But Mr Greiner was dismissed from government by the ICAC and a collusion of independents and ALP.
A double standard exists, and the media are missing it because ?
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
'Technically Corrupt' Tripodi Walks
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Sacking backlash snares Reba Meagher
By Bruce McDougall
HEALTH Minister Reba Meagher has been forced into a humiliating backdown as a senior planning official she sacked just two weeks ago got his job back yesterday.
Now the planner, Robert Martin, who was made a public scapegoat over the Bathurst Hospital debacle, is threatening to sue the State Government over the damage done to his reputation.
At the height of the design and construction problems surrounding the new $100 million Bathurst Hospital, Mr Martin was publicly ``removed'' from his position with NSW Health.
Premier Morris Iemma said at the time: "People will be held accountable, whether it is a contractor, a sub-contractor or staff."
Yesterday, the Health Services Union said Mr Martin had been unfairly blamed.
"They put him off but he was never off the payroll," general secretary Michael Williamson said.
"He was put back today in his job ... but he's not a happy camper.
"His involvement in Bathurst (Hospital) was moderate and he is considering legal action over the way he was treated."
A spokeswoman for the Greater Western Area Health Service refused to confirm or deny Mr Martin's reinstatement.
Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell accused Ms Meagher of misleading the public over the health planner's removal.
"It's a measure of Reba Meagher's incompetence that the only person she claims to have sacked over the Bathurst Hospital bungle is reportedly now back at work," he said.
"As usual it appears no one in the Iemma Government is willing to take responsibility for this latest incompetent episode.
"The Health Minister needs to explain to the communities in the Central West why this planner continues to be involved in local hospital upgrades after she blamed him for the Bathurst Hospital bungle.
"It is going to cost taxpayers literally millions of dollars to fix Bathurst Hospital."
ICAC finds Tripodi not 'corrupt'
from news.com.au
NSW Ports Minister Joe Tripodi will not be investigated by the corruption watchdog over the appointment of a close friend to a $200,000 a year job with NSW Maritime.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has told Premier Morris Iemma there is nothing to substantiate an allegation that Mr Tripodi interfered with the appointment of Joe Scimone.
The confirmation from Mr Iemma's office follows a request by the government for the ICAC to investigate allegations that Mr Tripodi had somehow acted inappropriately.
In her formal response to the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Deputy ICAC Commissioner Theresa Hamilton said there was no case for a formal investigation.
"The panel took into account that based on the information obtained during interviews and an assessment of the files mentioned above there was nothing to substantiate an allegation that Minister Tripodi interfered with merit selection procedures," she wrote.
Mr Iemma had previously said he would stand down Mr Tripodi from his cabinet if he was found to have acted improperly.
Mr Scimone is currently testifying before ICAC as part of an investigation into 14 people in relation to planning practices at Wollongong City Council, including allegations of sex and bribes for developments.
ICAC Commissioner Jerrold Cripps has recommended the whole council be sacked.
Mr Iemma has indicated that once he receives formal advice he will take that action.
Mr Iemma earlier announced Wollongong state Labor MP Noreen Hay had been reinstated as parliamentary secretary for health after ICAC declared she was not a person of interest.
Ms Hay was stood down from the position by Mr Iemma on Friday, after it emerged she had agreed to lobby Wollongong city councillors on behalf of a developer, Frank Vellar, who is under scrutiny by the corruption watchdog.
"ICAC Commissioner Jerrold Cripps advised Ms Hay is not an 'affected person' in relation to the inquiry and would not be called to give evidence," Mr Iemma said.
"Following advice from the commissioner, Ms Hay will resume her role as parliamentary secretary for health immediately.
Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell said the community would feel let down by the ICAC's decision not to investigate Mr Tripodi.
"Despite Joe Tripodi's denials, NSW Maritime have now admitted they knew about the sexual harassment allegations surrounding Mr Scimone before he was appointed to the position," he told reporters.
"ICAC today has been very narrow in what it has found.
"Joe Tripodi wouldn't make the ministry in any other Labor government around this country."
Earlier, Mr O'Farrell said Mr Iemma's different handling of his two MPs showed he "was all over the place" in relation to the ICAC investigation.
"He wants to appear tough but he won't stand down Joe Tripodi, he wants to appear tough so he stands down Noreen Hay before ICAC confirms she is a person of interest," he said.
"This is a bloke that is trying to shore up his leadership, by whatever means are necessary. It's a bloke who is not putting leadership focus or energy into running NSW."
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