Chris Minns and Paul Scully must order investigation into $100 million Hawks Nest development and its links to Obeid associates
Scott Farlow
Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Scott Farlow has today called on Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully to order an immediate investigation into the Hawks Nest beachside development and its links to associates of disgraced former Labor Minister Eddie Obeid.
In NSW Budget Estimates yesterday the Secretary of the Premier’s Department, Simon Draper, confirmed his office has oversight of more than 400 planning applications. At the same hearing, the Premier praised the importance of the Housing Delivery Authority and the work it is doing. If the Premier truly believes in that work, then he and his Minister for Planning and Public Spaces must direct Mr Draper to investigate this $100 million project without delay and Minister Scully should revoke his Ministerial order on the project until the investigation is complete.
The Opposition has already asked Premier Minns and Minister Scully whether any close associates, consultants or known proxies of the Obeid family are financially or professionally connected to the Hawks Nest development. Both failed to answer to give any real answers and instead they pushed responsibility away while allowing the project to be fast tracked as a state significant development with no disclosure of who really benefits.
Eddie Obeid is not the people’s problem. He is Labor’s problem. Some of the very Ministers and MPs now serving under Chris Minns sat around the caucus and worked as staffers
when Obeid ruled the Labor Party. They know the damage he caused. They know how it destroyed Labor’s reputation and drove it from office. Those same Ministers should not be searching for excuses. They should be demanding action to stop history from repeating itself.
Families across NSW deserve a government that is transparent and accountable. Instead, they are being let down by a Premier and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces who are looking the other way.
Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Scott Farlow said this is a $100 million project on pristine beachfront land, fast tracked by the Minns Labor Government, yet the public has no idea who is really behind it.
“The Premier and Minister have the power to commence an investigation and revoke the Ministerial order until the investigation is complete,” Mr Farlow said.