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Category: Government and Politics / Superannuation / Law, Crime and Justice / State Parliament / Political Parties

NSW Labor calls for corrupt politicians to be stripped of taxpayer-funded super

Monday, 19 Sep 2016 07:53:06

Eddie Obeid is awaiting sentencing on an official misconduct charge. (AAP: David Moir)

Politicians like former minister Eddie Obeid, who are found guilty of serious criminal offences, should be stripped of some superannuation entitlements, the NSW Opposition says.

Labor leader Luke Foley has written to NSW Premier Mike Baird seeking bipartisan support for the issue, as well as the closure of loopholes allowing people found guilty of corrupt conduct, to evade charges.

Mr Foley said the superannuation plan was aimed at people such as former Labor MP Obeid and others like him.

A former Labor minister and influential powerbroker, Obeid was found guilty of misconduct in office in June and is awaiting sentencing.

The charge related to his lobbying of a senior maritime official over cafe leases at Sydney's Circular Quay when he was a member of the NSW Upper House.

Obeid, 72, failed to disclose he and his family had a financial interest in the cafes.

Mr Foley said he was seeking support for changes to the parliamentary superannuation scheme to ensure that members, or former members, who were found guilty of misconduct in public office, lost the entitlement to the taxpayer-funded part of their benefits.

The Labor leader said there was bipartisan support for that change in 2006 and he called on the Premier to release legal advice the Government had received on the issue since Obeid was convicted.

Labor wants electoral funding loophole closed

The Opposition also wants a bipartisan approach to legislation that would abolish the three-year limitation period for the prosecution of people found corrupt under the Election Funding Authority Act.

Mr Foley said that would ensure that Liberal MPs investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) over the 2011 state election campaign could also face court.

"The people of New South Wales are entitled to expect the highest standards of conduct from their elected representatives and public officials," he said.

"I urge Mr Baird to support Labor's call to ensure legal loopholes protecting the corrupt are closed and that disgraced MPs aren't receiving cushy taxpayer funded entitlements."

The Baird government is already looking into whether Obeid can be stripped of his superannuation entitlements.

External Link: foley letter

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