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Come clean over raids, Bowen urges Barry

Acting Labor leader Chris Bowen says NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell needs to explain what's going on with reports three of his MPs have been referred to ICAC.

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Source: AAP


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NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell should suspend three state MPs who are reportedly caught up in an ICAC investigation, acting federal Labor leader Chris Bowen says.

The Central Coast offices of Liberal MPs Chris Spence and Darren Webber were reportedly searched on Friday, with officers seizing computers and documents.

The raids came after the Liberals referred matters relating to political donations to the Electoral Funding Authority in May 2012.

A senior staff member of Energy Minister Chris Hartcher, Tim Koelma, resigned last year and his electorate officer Ray Carter was suspended over the allegations on full pay.

Mr O'Farrell has hosed down calls for him to stand down Mr Spence, Mr Webber and Mr Hartcher, saying until the ICAC releases a statement it is all just "pure speculation".

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Mr O'Farrell has said he could not ask the MPs whether or not the search had occurred, as they were legally bound not to comment.

But Mr Bowen said on Tuesday that Mr O'Farrell should "come clean ... about what is going on here".

"Clearly he should be suspending his state MPs from his Liberal party room while this investigation is under way," he told reporters.

On Monday the likely new federal Liberal MP for Dobell, Karen McNamara, was also drawn into the controversy, as she was Mr Webber's campaign manager for the 2011 election, Fairfax Media reported.

Mr Bowen said that was a matter for Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Ms McNamara to explain.

"It is important that they are very clear about her level of involvement in this investigation," he said.


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