Pension for corrupt MP may be stripped

As the NSW DPP considers charges against notorious corrupt former state minister Eddie Obied, the premier is deciding whether to take his pension too.

Former NSW MP Eddie Obeid

The NSW premier is deciding whether Former MP Eddie Obeid's (pic) pension will be stripped from him. (AAP)

Crooked former NSW MP Eddie Obeid has been found corrupt again but there's a chance he and at least one of his dodgy cronies will have their pensions stripped from them by the government.

Obeid and another former Labor minister, Joe Tripodi, were on Thursday found to have acted corruptly in the awarding of lucrative cafe leases at Sydney's Circular Quay, in which the corrupt former kingmaker had hidden family interests.

Thursday's reports from the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) included half a dozen corruption findings against Obeid, flowing from three inquiries.

And while the Director of Public Prosecutions considers the ICAC recommendations for criminal charges to be laid, NSW Premier Mike Baird will look at stripping both Obeid's and Tripodi's pensions, as part of the coalition government's response to the ICAC report.

"I do think that's a very fair consideration," Mr Baird said.

"As part of the considerations of the report we'll look at that because corrupt activity ... means in a general community sense benefits and entitlements are withdrawn."

Both men have also been expelled from the Australian Labor Party.

The ICAC's conclusion is the latest in a series of corruption findings against Mr Obeid.

But he has never been prosecuted by the DPP and has dared authorities to lay charges against him so he can defend ICAC's "allegations" in court.

"If I wasn't in Australia I would think the behaviour of ICAC suits a place like Zimbabwe," Mr Obeid said outside the family's historic Sydney mansion on Thursday.

"There is nothing in all these inquiries that we feel we have done anything wrong nor will it stand up in a court of law."

The ICAC is due to report on two more probes involving the Obeid clan - Operations Credo and Spicer - by Christmas.


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Source: AAP


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