Operation Spicer public notice

Tuesday 18 February 2014

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating allegations of corrupt conduct involving:

  1. whether, between April 2009 and April 2012, certain members of parliament, including Christopher Hartcher, Darren Webber and Christopher Spence, and others, including Timothy Koelma and Raymond Carter, corruptly solicited, received and concealed payments from various sources in return for certain members of parliament agreeing to favour the interests of those responsible for the payments
  2. whether, between December 2010 and November 2011, certain members of parliament, including Christopher Hartcher, Darren Webber and Christopher Spence, and others, including Raymond Carter, solicited, received and failed to disclose political donations from companies, including prohibited donors, contrary to the Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981
  3. whether Eightbyfive, a business operated by Timothy Koelma, and Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd, through its chief executive officer, Nicholas Di Girolamo, entered into an agreement whereby Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd made regular payments to Eightbyfive, purportedly for the provision of media, public relations and other services and advice, in return for which Christopher Hartcher favoured the interests of Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd
  4. the circumstances in which false allegations of corruption were made against senior executives of Sydney Water Corporation (see also Operation Credo).

As part of its investigation, the ICAC will hold a public inquiry starting at 10:00 am on Monday 28 April 2014 at Level 7, 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. This public inquiry will also be a subject of a directions hearing to be held at the above premises on Wednesday 5 March 2014 at 3 pm.

Persons claiming to be substantially and directly interested in this matter may seek leave to be represented at the inquiry, and are invited to contact Ms Jan Daly on (02) 8281-5999 to advise of their interest.

Members of the public with information relevant to the investigation are encouraged to provide it in writing at GPO Box 500, Sydney NSW 2001, by email to [email protected] or by facsimile (02) 9264-5364. The ICAC will treat all information confidentially and has legislative powers to protect people who provide information to the Commission.

Roy Waldon
Solicitor to the Commission