Hay Defends Her Role In Expulsion

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday April 9, 2008

By MARIO CHRISTODOULOU

WOLLONGONG MP Noreen Hay sat on an ALP committee that decided the fate of her former ALP colleagues named in Independent Commission Against Corruption hearings last month.

Former Wollongong council officer Joe Scimone and former Wollongong councillors Frank Gigliotti, Kiril Jonovski, Zeki Esen and Val Zanotto were expelled from the Labor Party on Friday and now have less than two weeks to appeal.

It's since been revealed Ms Hay represented the NSW Premier Morris Iemma on an internal ALP committee which decided to expel the five.

Ms Hay was herself caught up in the hearings. During the ICAC inquiry a recording between Ms Hay and controversial developer Frank Vellar was played. In the recording Ms Hay agreed to lobby Labor councillors on Mr Vellar's behalf.

It was also revealed she accepted free office space in Wollongong's Crown St from Mr Vellar.

The Premier immediately stood Ms Hay down from her position as Parliamentary Secretary for Health on Friday, February 29, only to reinstate her on Monday, March 3 after ICAC commissioner Jerrold Cripps, QC, said she was not a person of interest.

The Mercury understands Ms Hay's presence on the party's administrative committee, which has about 30 members, has caused disquiet among sections of Wollongong's Labor ranks.

Under the party's rules, the five members accused of bringing the party into disrepute were brought before the disputes committee. That committee then made recommendations to the party's main body, the administrative committee, on which Ms Hay sits.

Yesterday Mr Iemma, through a spokeswoman, would not comment on whether Ms Hay should have stood aside from deliberating on the future of the ALP members, given her close links with them.

The spokeswoman's only comment was: "The admin committee of the ALP, including Noreen Hay, made the appropriate decision to expel the five individuals involved in the ICAC investigation."

Ms Hay said she did not believe her presence on the committee was inappropriate.

"I was not there as Noreen Hay, Member for Wollongong, I was there representing the Premier," she said.

She would not answer whether she voted to expel the five members, citing internal ALP restrictions which prevent members from commenting on internal committee matters.

The party's review tribunal will deal with any appeals by the five expelled members.

Opposition spokesman for the Illawarra Greg Pearce said Ms Hay should not have passed judgment on individuals with whom she had close links.

"Its a bit rich of Noreen Hay - who is Morris Iemma's representative on the ALP administrative committee - to be involved in the suspension of these individuals," he said.

"It shows Morris Iemma has no standards."

ICAC Commissioner Jerrold Cripps is yet to hand down his findings.

THE ICAC FALLOUT

How the Labor Party dealt with the five named in ICAC hearings.

? Five party members are accused of bringing the party into disrepute.

? Accused persons argue their case before the ALP disputes committee.

? Disputes committee recommends to the ALP administrative committee that five members be expelled.

? Administrative committee agrees and expels five members.

? Five members have two weeks to appeal expulsion.

? Any appeals are heard by the ALP review tribunal.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

Back to News Index | Back to Home