NSW Energy Minister Hartcher resigns from his post following ICAC charges

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Minister Chris Hartcher Image credit: flickr User: Roving I

The Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) launched an inquiry against NSW Minister Chris Hartcher, accusing him of setting up a trust fund to solicit donations for the Liberal Party.

Minister Chris Hartcher Image credit: flickr User: Roving I
Minister Chris Hartcher
Image credit: flickr User: Roving I

The ICAC issued a warrant against Mr. Hartcher who resigned from the frontbench immediately after the Commission charged him with involvement in setting up the fund.

Sources say that the trust company was established by a member of Mr. Hartcher’s staff and that it accepted donations from developers who are prohibited from contributing to political parties in NSW.

ABC reports that ICAC officials have raided Mr. Hartcher’s office at Erina, as well as the offices of Darren Webber and Chris Spence.

State Premier Barry O’Farrell has issued a statement saying he accepted Mr. Hartcher’s resignation.

Adertisement

“I accept and support Mr. Hartcher’s decision to resign from Cabinet following today’s actions by ICAC,” he said.

“Mr Hartcher advised me he is confident he will be cleared of any wrongdoing. However Chris said that, while the investigation is ongoing and in the interests of the Government, he feels it appropriate to resign from the ministry.”

Mr. Farrell thanked Mr. Hartcher for his service to the Government and the state, particularly for his success in bringing electricity prices under control for NSW households and businesses after years of escalating prices during the reign of the Labour Party.

Opposition leader John Robertson asked for Mr. Hartcher to be suspended from the Liberal party until the issue with the illegal donations was resolved.

“We have seen three senior ministers from the frontbench go in just four months. Greg Pearce sacked by Barry O’Farrell, Graham Annesley resigned from the Parliament, and this morning after Chris Hartcher’s office was raided by ICAC, he has also resigned,” he said.

“This Government is now more focused on its own internal workings and what’s going on on the front bench than it is on dealing with the issues that are important to the people of NSW.”

The latest allegations and the resignation of Mr. Hartcher forced the Premier to reshuffle his frontbench.

Mr. Farrell said the vacant ministerial position will be filled by Stuart Ayres, the Member of Penrith and Parliamentary Secretary for Western Sydney.

Fair Trading Minister Antony Roberts will be appointed Acting Minister for Resources and Energy, Special Minister of State and Minister for the Central Coast.