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COMBET ICAC: I WAS MISLED

Climate Change Minister and Member for Charlton Greg Combet today told the ICAC he was misled by a trusted old friend when he came asking for support for a training mine in the Hunter Valley.

Mr Combet, along with several union, political and private sector figures, wrote a letter of support for the training mine at Doyle’s Creek. The granting of the licence, by disgraced former New South Wales Mining Minister Ian Macdonald, is at the centre of a long running ICAC inquiry.

Mr Combet told the inquiry today that former CFMEU boss John Maitland had come to him several times seeking a letter of support for the mine. Mr Maitland had a financial stake in the mine. He said he’s had a longstanding and friendly relationship with Mr Maitland.

“We had worked very closely on numerous occasions and I trusted him,” Mr Combet said.

At the time Mr Combet wrote his letter to Mr Macdonald, he did not know Mr Maitland had a financial interest in the mine.

“Did he tell you that one per cent of the anticipated revenues from the coal mine were going to be put toward training?” asked counsel assisting Peter Braham
asked.

“No, he did not,” Mr Combet responded.

Mr Combet told the ICAC that Mr Maitland should have been upfront about the commercial element of the plan and that he was “misled”.

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