Greens MP David Shoebridge urges probe into hidden donation
Another case of hidden political donations, and the Planning Department's role in making them public, needs to be independently investigated to ensure integrity in the planning system, Greens MP David Shoebridge has said.
Last week the Mercury revealed how plans to expand a waste recovery and recycling facility at Kembla Grange had been sent to the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) after a political donation from the applicant was belatedly declared.
The application had been in the system for six months without the Planning Department picking up the omission, until the Mercury started asking questions.
Four disclosure forms have now been posted on the department's website, one showing payment from applicant Adam Blackwell for his Liberal Party membership - which is why the plan has been sent to the independent PAC instead of being dealt with in-house by the department.
Mr Shoebridge said such failures were not rare.
"This is not just a one-off case that shows a few cracks in the system; what we are seeing here is repeated, systemic failure in the NSW planning system," he said.
The Kembla Grange development is not the only time political donations have been uncovered months after an application has been made for an Illawarra development.
In 2011, former coal-mining boss Arun Jagatramka was revealed to have made several donations to various politicians.
This was revealed more than 18 months after his application to expand the Russell Vale mine was received, and shortly after the Planning Department had recommended it be approved. The plan was sent to the PAC.
Perhaps most notoriously, in 2011 the Mercury revealed how Calderwood developer Delfin Lend Lease had made undeclared donations to NSW Labor.
At first the department denied these existed, then released information on $48,000 in relevant donations.
Missing disclosures have usually been picked up by media or members of the public, not by checks within the department.
Over the past week the Planning Department, through its media unit, has refused to answer questions as to how many developments have been sent to the PAC after missing declarations were discovered.
Mr Shoebridge said it was not good enough to say developers must make sure they comply.
"We pay people to be public servants in NSW Planning to make developers follow the law, not turn a blind eye to blatant non-disclosure.
"The timing and content of the [Kembla Grange] developer's donations disclosures raises a series of questions that need to be independently and vigorously investigated."
Mr Blackwell has said the development would comply with state policy and laws.
The department also refused to answer questions about when the donations were received, why there were inconsistencies in their dating, and why they were not noticed earlier.
A statement from the department's media unit said its compliance unit was investigating.
"All applicants are made aware of their legal obligations concerning political donation disclosure when they submit an application," it said.
"Applicants are required by law to make a declaration if a reportable political donation has been made and it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure it complies.
"Political donations are not considered by the department when assessing applications."