Troubled Times For Hay

Illawarra Mercury

Friday July 25, 2008

? February 22, 2008: Noreen Hay says she has received about $6000 from developers named as persons of interest by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

She agrees to return the political donations.

"Wherever there is doubt about the integrity of donors, I will be returning that donation," she said.

? February 29, 2008: Noreen Hay is stood down as parliamentary secretary for health by Premier Morris Iemma after a telephone intercept is played at ICAC hearings.

In the intercept Mr Vellar asks Ms Hay to contact councillors about his North Beach Bathers' Pavilion proposal. Ms Hay replies: "Yeah. Can you call into my office next week at all?"

Ms Hay denies any wrongdoing and two days later is reinstated to her parliamentary secretary position by Mr Iemma after ICAC Commissioner Jerrold Cripps, QC, publicly states she is not a person of interest.

? April 9, 2008: Noreen Hay says it is not inappropriate that she sit on a Labor Party committee which decided the fate of Labor councillors named in public hearings.

Ms Hay represented the Premier on the internal ALP committee which decided to expel former Wollongong council officer Joe Scimone and former Wollongong councillors Frank Gigliotti, Kiril Jonovski, Zeki Esen and Val Zanotto from the ALP.

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

? May 13, 2008: It is revealed Noreen Hay failed to include about 90 political donations worth $110,000 in her initial campaign funds declaration for the 2007 election.

The donations include $2000 from developer Frank Vellar and $2000 from his company Sebvell. Ms Hay said the mistake was made in ALP head office.

"All the information was provided to (Labor's head office) in time for the original return ... and head office was the agent and they have stated publicly that this is their administration error."

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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