Ian Macdonald (New South Wales politician)

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.... [trial judge — Justice Christine Adamson] "misdirected" the jurors about the state of mind needed to be found guilty of wilful misconduct in public office. It follows, in our opinion, with the greatest respect to the trial judge, that the jury was not properly directed on the mental element of the offence.

—  New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal judgement, February 2019.

Prior to his sentencing, the NSW Parliament passed legislation to remove parliamentary pensions from former politicians convicted of serious criminal offences. [46]

In late May 2017 Macdonald was also committed to stand trial on conspiracy charges with Obeid, and his son, Moses Obeid, relating to Macdonald's granting of a coal exploration licence involving the Mount Penny tenement; [8] [9] due to commence in March 2019. [47] All three were tried before Justice Elizabeth Fullerton, and the trial commenced in early 2020 and concluded in February 2021. None of the accused gave evidence at their trial. Justice Fullerton handed down her verdict on 19 July, finding all three guilty. [13] [14] [15] On 21 October, Macdonald was sentenced to nine years and six months, with a non-parole period of five years and three months, over his part in the conspiracy to gain a mining lease over the Obeid’s family farm at Bylong. [42] [43] Macdonald, together with Obeid, have lodged an appeal against their conviction, claiming that Justice Fullerton made a number of errors of fact and reasoning when she found them guilty. Despite applying for bail, Macdonald is in custody with the appeal expected to be heard in September 2022, [48] later delayed to April 2023. [49]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Harvey, Eliza (6 June 2013). "Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald expelled from Labor Party". ABC News . Australia. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Wells, Jamelle (25 February 2019). "Ian Macdonald wins appeal against misconduct conviction, walks free from prison". ABC News . Australia. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Mr Ian Michael Macdonald (1949- )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 "ICAC finds corrupt conduct in relation to Doyles Creek coal exploration licence" (Press release). Independent Commission Against Corruption. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Nicholls, Sean (20 November 2014). "Former Labor minister Ian Macdonald prosecuted over Doyles Creek mine deal". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  6. 1 2 "ICAC: Former NSW ministers Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald to be prosecuted after corruption findings". ABC News . Australia. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Ian Macdonald found guilty of misconduct in public office, John Maitland guilty as accessory". ABC News . Australia. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 McClymont, Kate (3 June 2017). "From pinot to porridge, Ian Macdonald to spend seven years behind bars". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 Chettle, Nicole; Stuart, Riley (2 June 2017). "Ian Macdonald jailed for 10 years for misconduct in public office, John Maitland also imprisoned". ABC News . Australia. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  10. 1 2 Parthridge, Emma (2 June 2017). "Former Labor minister Ian Macdonald sentenced to 10 years for misconduct in public office". The Telegraph . Australia. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  11. 1 2 Thompson, Angus (25 February 2019). "Ian Macdonald, John Maitland misconduct convictions quashed". The Herald . Newcastle. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  12. 1 2 Thompson, Angus (25 February 2019). "Ex-NSW Labor minister Ian Macdonald and union friend John Maitland's convictions thrown out". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  13. 1 2 3 McClymont, Kate (19 July 2021). "Eddie Obeid, Ian Macdonald and Moses Obeid found guilty over rigged tender". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 "Eddie Obied, Ian Macdonald, Moses Obeid found guilty of mine licence conspiracy". ABC News . Australia. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 Davies, Anne (19 July 2021). "Former NSW Labor ministers Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald found guilty of corruption charges". Guardian Australia . Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  16. ↑ "Independent Commission Against Corruption Bill (No.2) – Second reading" (PDF). Hansard – extract. Legislative Council of New South Wales. 8 June 1988. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  17. ↑ "New Minister for Agriculture". The Country Hour . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 April 2003. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  18. ↑ "Rees crackdown: ministers axed from NSW cabinet". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 November 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  19. ↑ Dinneen, Martin (17 November 2009). "Hornery to Keep Fighting". Newcastle Herald . Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  20. ↑ Hall, Louise (4 June 2010). "Keneally loses another minister". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  21. ↑ "Corruption watchdog to investigate Macdonald's expenses". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  22. ↑ Nicholls, Sean (7 June 2010). "Expenses errors: Macdonald quits NSW parliament". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 10 June 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  23. ↑ Mitchell, Alex (6 June 2010). "The party was over long before 'Macca' jumped". The Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 8 June 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  24. ↑ "Labor announces Macdonald replacement". ABC News. Australia. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  25. ↑ Nicholls, Sean (13 July 2012). "Labor axes trio in bid to rebuild". smh.com.au. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  26. ↑ Nicholls, Sean; McClymont, Kate (24 November 2011). "Tiffanie and the minister: Macdonald accepted sexual services arranged by Medich, inquiry hears". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  27. ↑ "I couldn't see properly; Macdonald's two bot night with Tiffanie". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  28. ↑ Totaro, Paula; Wainwright, Robert (25 February 2003). "Dump the Left, and Eddie Obeid will see you right". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 26 May 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
  29. ↑ "Public inquiry into circumstances surrounding decision to open Bylong Valley mining area for coal exploration". Operation Jasper (Press release). Independent Commission Against Corruption. 9 November 2012. Archived from the original on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  30. ↑ "Witness list for the Operation Jasper Segment" (PDF). Operations Indus/Jasper/Acacia Public Inquiry (Press release). Independent Commission Against Corruption. 9 November 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  31. ↑ Wells, Jamelle (13 November 2012). "Iemma tells ICAC of relationship between Obeid, Macdonald" (transcript, video, audio). ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  32. ↑ "ICAC finds former minister Ian Macdonald corrupt over rewards for facilitating meeting with energy executive" (Press release). Independent Commission Against Corruption. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  33. 1 2 "ICAC finds corrupt conduct over Mount Penny tenement" (Press release). Independent Commission Against Corruption. 31 July 2013. Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  34. ↑ Shanahan, Leo (31 July 2013). "Ian Macdonald, Eddie Obeid facing charges after being found by ICAC to have acted corruptly". The Australian . AAP. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  35. ↑ Wells, Jamelle; Gerathy, Sarah (31 July 2013). "ICAC recommends charges against former NSW Labor ministers Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald". ABC News . Australia. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  36. ↑ Olding, Rachel; Waters, Georgia (31 July 2013). "Eddie Obeid, Ian Macdonald acted corruptly, ICAC finds". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  37. ↑ Gerathy, Sarah; Oriti, Thomas (31 July 2013). "Ian Macdonald vows to launch court challenge against corruption findings". ABC News . Australia. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  38. ↑ Besser, Linton; Nicholls, Sean (30 August 2013). "Ian Macdonald found corrupt by ICAC again". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  39. ↑ Kennedy, Jean; and staff (21 January 2014). "NSW to cancel licences for Hunter Valley mines at centre of ICAC corruption findings". ABC News . Australia. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  40. ↑ Nicholls, Sean; Whitbourn, Michaela (20 January 2014). "NSW government cancels mining licences tainted by Eddie Obeid, Ian Macdonald corruption scandals". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  41. ↑ "ICAC finds corrupt conduct in relation to benefit to former minister" (Press release). Independent Commission Against Corruption. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  42. 1 2 Davies, Anne (21 October 2021). "Ex-Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid released on health grounds after being sentenced to seven years in jail". Guardian Australia . Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  43. 1 2 "Eddie and Moses Obeid, Ian Macdonald jailed over conspiracy". SBS News . AAP. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  44. ↑ Hall, Louisa (4 December 2015). "Disgraced former MP Ian Macdonald fails to secure funding for criminal trial". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  45. ↑ Merritt, Chris (27 January 2016). "Refusal of legal aid risks stalling trial of Ian Macdonald". The Australian . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  46. ↑ Nicholls, Sean (23 May 2017). "Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald to be stripped of NSW parliamentary pensions". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  47. ↑ "Former NSW ministers Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid to face trial in 2019". Guardian Australia . AAP. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  48. ↑ Wells, Janelle (17 December 2021). "Eddie Obeid, Moses Obeid and Ian Macdonald denied bail ahead of conspiracy appeal". ABC News . Australia. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  49. ↑ Wells, Jamelle (23 June 2022). "Jailed former NSW ministers to appeal convictions for $30m mine licence conspiracy". ABC News. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
Ian Macdonald
Member of Legislative Council of New South Wales
In office
19 March 1988 –7 June 2010
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Agriculture
2003–2004		Succeeded by
himself
as Minister for Primary Industries
Preceded by Minister for Fisheries
2003–2004		Succeeded by
Preceded by
himself
as Minister for Agriculture		 Minister for Primary Industries
2004–2009
Preceded by Minister for Natural Resources
2005–2007		Succeeded by
himself
as Minister for Mineral and Forest Resources
Preceded by Minister for Mineral Resources
2005–2009
Preceded by Minister for Energy
2007–2009		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for State Development
2007–2009		Succeeded by
himself
as Minister for State and Regional Development
Preceded by
himself
as Minister for Mineral Resources and
as Minister for Natural Resources		 Minister for Mineral and Forest Resources
2009–2010		Succeeded by
Preceded by
himself
as Minister for State Development		 Minister for State and Regional Development
2009–2010		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for the Central Coast
2009–2010		Succeeded by
New portfolio Minister for Major Events
2010		Succeeded by
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