Two Hunter mining companies have until today to try and convince Premier Barry O'Farrell not to terminate their coal exploration licences after a corruption scandal.
In December last year, the ICAC delivered its final report to the government which recommended the licences be cancelled due to the taint of corruption.
The licences were awarded by former Labor Resources Minister Ian Macdonald, who is facing potential criminal charges over the deals.
Mr O'Farrell has given the companies until today to show cause as to why he should not follow that advice.
The companies behind each licence, NuCoal at Doyles Creek and Cascade Coal at Mt Penny and Glendon Brook, say they are innocent of wrongdoing.
Each face a difficult task in persuading the government of the claims.
Several former directors of NuCoal's predecessor, Doyles Creek Mining, face potential charges of corruption, as do a number of directors at Cascade Coal.
Late last year, the government passed legislation giving it the legal power to revoke the licences.
Craig Chapman owns land near to the proposed Doyles Creek mine and says the ICAC have clearly outlined the reasons as to why the lease should be cancelled.
"The ICAC released a very comprehensive report in relation to the shenanigans in Doyles Creek and the fact that the exploration licence was awarded corruptly," he said.
"The licence is forever tainted and naturally we would be hoping the Premier and the New South Wales Government adopts the recommendations of ICAC and cancels that exploration licence."
The secretary of the Bylong Valley Protection Alliance, Craig Shaw, says the ICAC have made clear what the future of the licence should be.
"We feel that the Mt Penny licence should be, as in Commissioner Ipp's words, expunged from the books," he said.
"We agree and Commissioner Ipp has made it patently clear, through his very precise kind of argument, that the lease is so tainted by corruption that it's non-salvagable."
没有评论:
发表评论