Democracy for Sale

The Greens have called in the ICAC to thoroughly examine the role donations played in the concessions granted to the developers of the big Auburn Central proejct in Auburn Council area because the Department of Local Government failed to properly consider this issue in its investigations.  See article in Sydney Morning Herald.

The Local Government Department's report into Auburn Central lets Labor off the hook. The question remains, if donations played no part how else do you explain the extraordinary concessions and generous land deals granted to the developer?

The report asserts there is no direct link between the $152,000 worth of donations the developer Sarkis Nassif and his companies have given to Labor since 2002 and this controversial development.  The Local Government Department's report plays down the role of donations on the basis that none were made around key approval dates and because most were made to candidates and branches outside of the Auburn area.

The report totally misunderstands the role donations play in the development process.  Donations are not kept in silos. Labor moves them around between Sussex Street and different candidates, which in this case include the Minister for Western Sydney Barbara Perry, Transport Minister John Watkins and the Minister for Police, David Campbell. And while donations may not have been given around a key approval date their influence still lingers.

Residents of Auburn and tenants of Auburn Central must now wear the damage – a dangerous, structurally unsound building and the loss of $5 million of public money from the cheap sale of council land.

Read the Department of Local Government's Report: http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/documents/Information/Auburn_S430_Investigation_Report.pdf