Shadow Attorney General Greg Smith and ICAC Committee Member Jonathan O’Dea today expressed concern the Rees Labor Government failed to act on ICAC concerns over the McGurk tape for four weeks.
“This tape, recorded by murdered Sydney businessman, Michael McGurk, was handed to the ICAC in September,” Mr O’Dea said.
“The tape allegedly contains allegations of corruption involving senior NSW Labor personnel and Government employees,” he said.
“However, the recording could not be heard because it was recorded illegally and could not be used as evidence.
“If the Rees Labor Government was really committed to investigating claims of corruption, it should have moved more quickly.
“Instead, it has taken two months to introduce special legislation to allow the ICAC to listen to the tape and make an assessment, or four weeks from the date of ICAC’s letter.”
Mr Smith said this is still too long.
“Claims of corruption should be addressed as quickly as possible so where corruption exists it can be stopped and any evidence gathered before it can be destroyed,” Mr Smith said.
Mr O’Dea and Mr Smith are Members of the Parliamentary Committee on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), which is charged with ensuring the ICAC is accountable to the Parliament.
“As Members of the Parliamentary Committee on the ICAC, we will be closely monitoring the developments of this case,” Mr Smith and Mr O’Dea concluded.
