The NSW Labor party sought political donations from a major tobacco company as recently as this week, it has been reported.
Earlier this month, NSW secretary Sam Dastyari wrote to an executive at tobacco company Philip Morris offering a $5000 place at a Business Dialogue and Country Business Forum, News Limited reported on Saturday.
The letter arrived on the same day federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon was on Tuesday forced to apologise for sending a fundraising request to Philip Morris in 2005, a year after Labor banned tobacco company donations.
Ms Roxon said the invitations had been sent accidentally and no donations were accepted.
Another five newly revealed letters were sent by federal Sports Minister Mark Arbib when he was secretary of the NSW Labor party, the newspaper reported.
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They invited a senior tobacco executive at Philip Morris to spend up to $15,000 on tickets to fundraising functions between 2006 and 2007.
Philip Morris did not attend any of the functions and no donations were made.
Mr Dastyari said the letter was an "accidental error".
"The NSW Labor party does not accept donations from tobacco companies - the application form to join Business Dialogue clearly states this," he said.
"Unfortunately it appears an out-of-date database has inadvertently been used."
